Durham is home
My pursuit of this position stems from Durham being my home and being an advocate in the community much before coming into Duke. My principle goal is to use my privilege and position within Duke to expand opportunities for youth in Durham use my experience and knowledge of those who I have worked with before in the community to ensure success and sustainability in the programs we pursue.
About Me
I am a first generation college student and a DACA recipient. My mother gave me the wonderful gift of bringing me to the United states at the age of seven, and for over twelve years I have lived in North Carolina. After moving around the state a bit, my family ultimately settled in Durham and we have lived here for more than six years. I had the privilege to graduate from Riverside High School here in Durham, and being able to attend Duke in this city that I have come to call home has been one of the best decisions in my life.
Personally I would be new to DSG but my experience with Durham is extensive.
Who I am Meeting With
Steve Unruhe, Vice Chair of DPS Board of Education:
Mr. Unruhe is one of my former high school teachers that now serves on the Board of Education. The main takeaway from the conversation with him was that we need to hook the idea of service and engagement of Duke students and Durham beginning their first year here. The second most important point is working with already established affinity groups on campus and connecting them with issues or groups in Durham.
Eliza Mathew, Senior Program Coordinator of Education Initiatives:
Eliza is former Riverside High graduate like myself and works diligently on managing education resources to youth between university and city through the Duke Office Durham and Regional Affairs. The conversation with her provided me with great insight about the changes that are occurring in the Durham and Regional Affairs office and who I would need to be contacting to establish a relationship with them if I were to get elected. Furthermore, her input on how essential it is to build a sense of accountability among Duke students in the service programs we pursue in Durham and what current organizations on and off campus provide an ideal model to follow was invaluable.
Liz Brown, VP of Durham and Regional Affairs 2017-18:
Even before getting elected I believe that it is essential to build a relationship with the previous leaders to ensure continuity in the work that is being done. Meeting with Liz provided me with an opportunity to hear what her experience was entering in to the position and what she feels now at the end of her term. It was great to here what developments had occurred this past year in the committee and her experience with working on affordable housing initiatives. I believe we both share a perspective that engaging with Durham is not about promoting our own agenda as Duke students but understanding the complexity of the place we live in and thinking critically about how we participate in the community.
Vision
Previous Work
Meeting about the resolution on Unnaccompained Minors
Show off support for resolution supporting and welcoming Unaccompanied Minors
Placing my vote for issues that Durham CAN should work on.
Speaking to the school board about the need to assist newly arrived immigrant youth in our schools
Placing requests to the school board to improve their counseling capacities.
We stand up against Deportation of students.
Took to DC to demand Wildin's release from detention.
Attending the much awaited graduation of Wildin a year after our fight for his release.
Sharing and educating N.O.W. on our activism regarding the issue of immigrants.
