Personal Statement

As a child, my father taught me that each and every person has an opportunity, through organizing, to advocate for themselves and their communities. He emphasized to me the importance of public service and the power that we collectively hold to change things for the better. I carry his lessons and the narratives of my community with me as I navigate this university and the world. I currently serve as co-coordinator of Dwight Hall at Yale, the Center for Public Service and Social Justice. Every day I interact with students, organizations, and community partners/non-profits that are tackling systemic issues in New Haven and beyond. Though these entities work diligently to mitigate systemic injustices, they fall short in erasing them in their entirety. Over the next few years, I hope to develop the historical, theoretical, and practical tools necessary to support organizers like this in their efforts to change systems and governments for the better.