When I was a kid, I loved playing outside on my suburban neighborhood street. I remember riding in the car through different neighborhoods in my hometown of Cincinnati, and wondering, “Where do the kids here play? I wouldn’t want to play here.” It dawned on me then that not everyone had the same lifestyle and opportunities I had, and that felt unfair. I also had my first volunteer experience as a kid with the Girl Scouts and discovered how much self-worth serving others gave me. 

These childhood passions and curiosities stayed with me through high school, and led me to study Sociology and Social Work in college. I learned that making impacts in individuals’ lives needs to come from systemic change. I began my career in community organizing and development and then followed my dream and joined the Peace Corps. For two years, I taught English and partnered with the community to facilitate development and youth projects in a Cameroonian village. I discovered my love of working in schools and with youth. I saw how much potential students have with their open minds and endless energy, and how much potential schools have in mobilizing youth, and through them, entire communities. 

When I returned from Cameroon, I wanted to continue partnering with schools on local community development. When I found an AmeriCorps position at Higher Ground while sitting across the country in Ohio, I felt like I was able to check the boxes of what I was looking for in a career: youth empowerment as the key to community development and community contribution as the definition of success. My two cats and I made the move to Tucson, and I started an AmeriCorps VISTA Leader position at Higher Ground within the Community Schools Initiative. I learned so much from Higher Ground’s unique approach and methods for empowering students and communities. 

After completing my AmeriCorps service, I accepted a position as a Student Support Specialist at Higher Ground within the Restart SMART strategy. For 3 years, I mentored and coached students to develop life skills so they could achieve their goals. In 2023, I transitioned to a Restart SMART Quality Coach so that I could use my experience to support more teams in expanding their impact and strengthening their partnership with students, families, and whole school communities. I am grateful to continue working alongside passionate and caring colleagues and community members to foster individual and community empowerment and growth.