Early in life, I learned that our presence in moments of injustice is not accidental — it is an invitation to lead. This principle has guided me throughout my journey, from standing up for peers at Michigan State University to advocating for communities across the State of Michigan. I often repeated to myself the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
My academic, professional and civic life has been grounded in the belief that equality is not a slogan but a structure and one that must be built with intentionality, scholarship and courage. At MSU, I served as a team coordinator for the Office of Cultural and Academic Transition, which led efforts to bring marginalized voices to institutional decision-making, and participated in critical racial equity research through the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program. These experiences taught me how to communicate across cultural boundaries and lead with both empathy and evidence.
Following graduation, my career has spanned the Michigan Democratic Party, presidential campaigns and legislative offices, including over a decade with the Michigan House of Representatives. In each of these roles, I developed strategic legislative policy, facilitated community engagement and helped shape public discourse. My work has included field organizing in nearly every Michigan county, policy advising on environmental justice and criminal justice reform and representing Michigan nationally on policy forums and task forces. I have worked alongside some of the most impactful Black leaders in this state and learned that leadership is not just about vision; it’s about implementation, humility and endurance.
As the new executive director of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, I bring this journey with me not just as a résumé, but as a commitment. I believe in the MLBC’s legacy and am determined to honor it through inclusive governance, coalition-building and policy excellence. I look forward to working alongside our elected members, staff, partners, supporters and community to expand what’s possible for Black Michiganders.