Public values that guide me include a sense of community and what that means to me starts with my family. Born in San Francisco, I come from a large family. My mother, a single mom at 19, worked her way to management and was head of a 7-person household, which included my grandparents, aunt and 2 cousins; and she often took in other family members. My grandmother on my mom’s side worked until retirement in her 60s and wrote letters regularly to local journalists and congressmen about policies she thought needed to be changed. Her letters were always thoughtful and respectful, but firm and eloquent, and she would read the letters to us before sending. My grandfather who worked as a teamster, continued to volunteer 5 days a week for the red cross for years into his retirement, while on disability. My grandmother on my dad’s side was a temporary foster mom to over 20 babies, eventually adopting my uncle Edwin when he was 18 months; and when my grandmother passed, Edwin was immediately welcomed into my aunt Bea’s home, a bilingual public grade school teacher. My father and step-mother, both come from large families, some members who have come into financial hardship or battled with substance abuse, and their house is always open to those who need a place until they get on their feet. I’ve always been around family who take action, take care and take part in the communities they live in, and I’m most influenced by these values and sense of community.
In addition to my family, other influences are those that make me think: Sidney Poitier, Maya Angelou, Noam Chomsky, Brene Brown, Midge Wilson of the Tenderloin Community School, Margaret Brodkin of Coleman Advocates, Ceci Marquette a teaching mentor and friend, Louie C.K., Steve Martin, Bill Cosby and Ellen Degeneres; Artists: Carter, M.I.A., and Ralph Nader who was a public advocate and often on the Phil Donahue Show when I was a kid.
The first in my family to go to college, I learned early on that hard work was the answer to getting what you want. So, I’ve worked in many fields, have a background in physical labor and art and have worked with a number of non-profits. I have also taught kids of all ages, from preschool to high school, all in public education and program settings. Through all of these experiences, the most frustrating part has been not understanding completely how to affect change that directly affects the people I work with, or the challenges I face in the systems I am taking part in.
I think the way I will affect policy change is to take note of my influences, experiences and the struggles of those I care about, and to take advantage of the privilege I have to educate myself on how to affect change. The policy issues that are most important to me are related to the environment, equal rights in the U.S. including marriage equality, public education equality in the U.S., and poverty in the U.S. and around the world. I haven’t chosen just one yet.
I am still learning what I think government’s role should be in society. I worry that government should have a larger role in social welfare in the U.S. because if left in the private sector, much social welfare may be at the mercy of special interests. And I also think compassion should become a public policy, and I don’t think it’s that far off. I have seen the effect that my family has had on each other and the people we care about, inside and out of my family.
I remember a letter my grandmother wrote to a cousin who asked her for missionary money, when I was a kid. I remember being very moved by the letter. My grandmother didn’t believe in missionary work, but she loved my cousin so she sent her a very nice letter to tell her she didn’t believe in what she was doing, but that she loved her, and along with the letter she included the money my cousin had asked for but said it was to support her and not her cause. Compassion comes in many forms.
2