My parents are my heroes. My dad is a retired postal worker and a descendant of freed slaves, indigenous Canadians and Russian Jews. My mom is a nurse, working on the frontlines during the pandemic, and her family was from the Caribbean island of Nevis and indigenous Americans.

In 1968, my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother were displaced from their home in Roxbury to make way for a highway project that was never built. When I was 12, my family was displaced so that our landlord could convert the building into luxury apartments. The issue of affordable housing is personal to me.

When I was 3 years old my mother moved our family from Allston to Brookline so that my siblings and I could receive a better education. When people tell me they moved to Newton for the schools, I understand exactly what they mean.

I moved to Newton in 2009 and have lived in the same apartment ever since. It is affordable and within walking distance of the commuter rail, and exactly the type of housing that makes Newton accessible to low and moderate income residents.

I was elected to the Newtonville Area Council in 2017, and served as Vice President.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller appointed me to the Newtonville Historic District Commission in 2018.

For twenty years, I’ve been a youth soccer and basketball referee. A referee must be fair, objective, and keep their cool under pressure - excellent skills in a City Councilor!

I work at Harvard University Press, and I hold a BA in Business Administration from Springfield College.

I will advocate for Newton to continue to be welcoming and affordable just as it has been to me.

As the Newton City Council undergoes zoning redesign, I will be a strong voice for increasing housing choices for low and moderate income families, while making sure we hold onto what we love about the “Garden City” - open space, walkable village centers, and the beautiful historic architecture in our homes and buildings.

As a Newtonville Area Councilor, I led on conducting a survey of Newton residents of what type of development they would like to see along the Washington Street corridor. We found strong consensus for buildings of up to four stories, with small, local retail, and more benches, trees and beautification. I have a track record of listening to residents and a commitment to representing my constituents. I look forward to being your voice on the Newton City Council.