In order for our community to thrive, we must invest in the working families who are its core. Our leaders in the State House have forgotten that we are strongest when we empower all people – not just the privileged and connected. This is why I am running to represent District 5 (Armory, Olneyville, Federal Hill, Mount Pleasant, and Elmhurst) in the Rhode Island State Senate.I have worked as a community organizer to empower workers, immigrants and small businesses throughout my professional career.
I have experienced the power of organized people in action while advocating for parent voice in public schools, access to English Language classes for immigrants, and fair housing policies that project families targeted by predatory lenders and unscrupulous banks.
I love this city. The creativity, diversity and underdog spirit of the state make it a wonderful place to live and work. Despite these tremendous qualities, it is all too evident to me that the “Providence Renaissance” has left too many members of our community behind. We have not experienced the economic or educational renaissance that we need to create well-paying jobs in the 21stcentury.
As I campaign across the West Side of Providence, I have met incredible people who are worried about what the future holds and are afraid that their leaders have lost touch with the communities that entrusted them with elected office. I have spoken with recent immigrant families who are struggling to pay the bills, small business owners who feel crushed by the inflated property tax burden, and parents worried that our schools are not providing their children with the same skills and opportunities as those in the wealthier suburbs. At the same time, we all read about the constant barrage of scandals and insider deals at the State House – from 38 Studios to the revolving door between the General Assembly and the judicial system. Too many legislators have forgotten who they were elected to serve.