Decisions about our communities are still being made without people like me at the table – and I’m ready to change that.

I grew up below the poverty line in Northern California, where strong public schools and social safety nets made my future possible. I became the first in my family to attend college, earning degrees from UC Berkeley and UC San Diego.

My career took me from California classrooms to U.S. embassies across four continents, eventually serving as a Foreign Service Officer with USAID, where I worked to expand economic opportunity and strengthen democratic institutions.

Last year, everything changed. When USAID was shut down and its staff laid off, my career in public service ended overnight. It was disorienting and difficult, but it also made something clear: it’s time to come home and serve the communities that shaped me.

I’m honored to have been selected for the LBJ Women's Campaign School, a nationally recognized, nonpartisan program that trains women to run for office and win. From May through November 2026, I’ll gain the practical skills, mentorship, and network needed to step into leadership.

As a first-generation college graduate and a Latina, I’ve spent my career in rooms that rarely reflected my background. Those experiences don’t just shape who I am – they shape how I’ll lead. My goal is to run for local office in Northern California, advocating for working families and communities like the one I grew up in.

I’ve worked hard to make this opportunity affordable: I received a partial scholarship, my flights are covered, and I’ll be staying with a friend. I’m seeking support to cover the remaining $1,740:

My fundraising deadline is May 8, 2026.

If you’re able to contribute, thank you. And if not, sharing this campaign would mean just as much. Your support helps bring more voices like mine into public leadership.

I’m deeply grateful to have you as part of this next chapter.