Growing up in south Texas, I witnessed many friends and community members impacted by our country's horriable racial and immigration laws and failures of government: from threats to deportation, workplace raids, and Hurricane Katrina. It was clear that people shouldn't have to live in fear and not know when they would see their family again, or whether or not they could get healthcare, or pick their kids up from school. Texas has a deep history of resilence amongst Black and Brown communities, and I learned alot from starting to organize in our community in highschool. When I moved to WA, I remember interning in college at the WA State Legislature during the Dream Act fight and seeing OneAmerica (Team Teal!) at Capitol every week, hearing the stories, and feeling that power, I knew I wanted to work at an organization like this. 

Working at OneAmerica has been the exact reminder and grounding of the power of grassroot organizing coupled with critcal electoral and advocacy work. Being apart of a leaders journey from a one-to-one to testifying in the legislature and holding our Congressional delegation accountable, are the reasons we do what we do. I love that I get to be part of making advocacy not only accessible, but transformative. My passion for government and politics is grounded in the neccessity for people of color and immigrants to be able to drive the issue, control the framing, and be the decision makers. Will you join me in ensuring OneAmerica can continue to support our leaders in raising "good trouble" ? (as Rep. John Lewis says!)