I'm a storyteller, advocate, and veteran. As co-founder of YIMBYs of Northern Virginia, a member of Arlington’s Transportation Commission, a frequent volunteer, and a former candidate for County Board, I’ve poured my heart into Arlington’s prosperity, safety, and inclusivity. I’m a veteran of the Air Force Reserves with a deployment to Afghanistan, and spent nearly a decade as a communications consultant supporting homeland security. Now pursuing a degree at George Mason University in nonprofit management and political communications, I’m focused on improving housing affordability and fixing our democracy. My commitment to public service is shaped by lived experience—from incarceration at age 20 to surviving homelessness, including DC’s brutal 'Snowmageddon' winter before settling in Arlington in 2012.
Storyteller
For over two decades, I’ve used storytelling to build trust, spark action, and shape public understanding. Whether through writing, video production, or strategic communications, I craft narratives that resonate—helping companies, government agencies, and grassroots advocacy groups connect with the public and advance their missions. I believe the most effective stories are honest ones: grounded in lived experience, clear purpose, and emotional truth. From branding campaigns to public policy messaging, I’ve helped partners turn complex ideas into compelling calls to action that reach donors, volunteers, policymakers, and the communities they serve.
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Advocate
I approach advocacy as both a moral imperative and a strategic craft. As co-founder and early leader of YIMBYs of Northern Virginia, I helped grow a grassroots movement into a respected force for housing reform to confront the region’s affordability crisis head-on. But housing is only one front in a broader struggle for community renewal. I’ve long advocated for election reform, budget transparency, and safer streets aligned with VisionZero goals, as well as Restorative Justice programs that address the systemic roots of crime. Whether through media engagement, coalition-building, or policy testimony, I work to restore public trust and make local governance more responsive, inclusive, and just.
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My service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve taught me discipline, teamwork, and the value of mission-focused leadership. I supported infrastructure projects both at home and abroad, including a deployment to Afghanistan where I led small construction teams and produced daily risk assessments for commanders. I also participated in a military-led housing initiative for charity to benefit adults with developmental disabilities, reinforcing my belief in public service. These experiences continue to shape my approach to civic advocacy and community-building.
Volunteer
Due to my own life experiences, including homelessness and incarceration, I actively volunteer with local charities. I support Bridges to Independence, an excellent homeless shelter, and help maintain the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail, a gem of Northern Virginia. Additionally, I participate in trash cleanups with EcoAction Arlington and organized the adoption of a neighborhood park.
Candidate
Being deeply involved in local civic organizations and policy efforts in Arlington County for many years culminated in a campaign for County Board to advocate for housing affordability, criminal justice, safer streets, and ranked choice voting while earning multiple endorsements. Despite not winning the election, I continue my commitment to community improvement through ongoing advocacy.
Inmate
Being a troubled adolescent led me into committing many financial crimes, including credit card fraud, which I was arrested for when I was 20 years old. I served four months in county jail in Florida. I make the best of that time, using it to perform inner-reflection and self-improvement to start becoming a better person.
Homeless
The journey to being a better person after incarceration wasn't a smooth one. Having a job in the fast-food industry wasn't enough to pay rent, and I fell into homelessness which took many months to dig out of. I again lived without housing when I first moved to the DC area, with the sticker shock of higher rent and fewer job opportunities for someone with a criminal record and no college degree held me back for almost a year.
Seeking a nonprofit mission
Drawing on two decades as a corporate communications manager, media producer, and community advocate, I am transitioning to the nonprofit sector to advance innovative policy solutions and strengthen local communities. My goal is to help nonprofits during these uncertain times by aligning outreach efforts to fundraising goals, developing strong relationships with partners using genuine storytelling, and improving efficiency using automated production workflows.
What I'm Reading
As an avid reader I'm usually juggling a handful of books on my Kindle. Most of my reading is non-fiction such as history, economics, business/project management, and biographies (rarely autobiographies since I feel they are often written with self-interested narratives). When I venture outside of "the real world" it's into science fiction, which I credit for expanding my worldview of social progress and the human condition just as much as non-fiction.
