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I was born in Fairfax hospital, and spent my early years in Harmony Place Trailer Park on Rt. 1. Though my mother worked incredibly hard, it was never enough to make the leap from poverty to middle class. Like many of us, our family struggled to make ends meet. We lived on food stamps, housing vouchers, and the charity of strangers. I endured an unplanned pregnancy at 17 and became mother to a 23-week preemie. Our new family of two was immediately in need of Section 8 housing, food stamps, WIC, utilities and phone service, and transportation.

More than likely, you know that I am a former stripper. It’s not something I am ashamed of. Far from it. I am grateful for that experience, the strong bonds I formed with other workers, and for the lessons I learned. Because of my past, I understand the hardships our community faces. I’ve struggled with food and housing insecurity, inaccessible healthcare, financial instability, abuse…you name it, I’ve been there. I understand and serve my community from a place of empathy because of those experiences, and I am a better, more dedicated elected official because of them.

Despite the challenges I faced, I continued to push forward and ultimately found solace in Jesus. My faith guided me to live a life of intention, service and purpose. I married my husband, a USMC veteran and former police officer, and we set out to raise 7 children in the years that followed. Two of our children are now adults serving in the Army and USMC. Continuing to be of service wherever possible, I served in various ministries and community organizations, also earning my degree in Theology and now working to complete my Masters of Divinity.

My days were full, but I made time to invest more deeply in the community when I saw such deep pain during the unrest after George Floyd was killed. I began regularly attending county board meetings and working with members to improve decisions, organizing with activist and faith groups, and building lasting connections with my neighbors on a daily basis. The more I became involved, the more it crushed me to see my neighbors suffer with no help coming from the leaders they elected.