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1. The first time I saw my father, he was chained. Gone was the mirage of the invincible man, the man who would protect me once I found him. At the age of 12, I finally saw my father — in an orange jumpsuit, looking weak and vulnerable.
2. Work does have some value and some dignity, but I don’t think working 14 hours and not being able to pay your bills, or working two jobs and not being able — there’s nothing inherently dignified about that.
3. I fully support accountability and transparency.
4. Government can’t do everything, but there is a role for government and smart policy, especially in equalizing opportunities for folks.
5. I harbor no illusion that government and elected office is a panacea for all of society’s ills.
6. I tell people all the time, the status quo is so untenable to me. Like, literally, I have no patience for it.
7. My father has taught me not to succumb to nihilism, and my mother has taught me the value of hard work and determination.
8. There had to be something more important than me being comfortable, me being OK, and me being that one person that made it from Stockton. That’s why I decided to run for city council in 2012.
9. We all aren’t in government, we all aren’t CEOs, but we all are somebody.
10. Growing up, I read all three of Frederick Douglass’ autobiographies by the time I was 12.
11. Growing up, when I’d throw out the trash, I’d toss it and dart because all the cats would come running. That’s why I still don’t like cats.
12. I plan on getting my Ph.D. from the city of Stockton.
13. We’re not just designed just to work all day and run a rat race. We’re designed to be in community, to volunteer, to vote, to raise our kids. And I think the more inputs and investments we can give in people to do those things, the better off we are as a community.
14. I decided that I would defy expectations, be it those put on me by society, race, socioeconomic status, or my father.
15. I’m someone very interested in diversity, equity, social justice, and getting rid of white supremacy.
16. I know, for me, I want to live in a community where people’s basic needs are met.
17. When I left Stockton and went to Stanford, I felt I hit the lotto. I did not think I was coming back.
18. I’m tired of talking about where we’ve been. I’m more interested in talking about where we’re going.
19. I’ve always been interested in political service and community advocacy.
20. I was born and raised in the south side of Stockton, California, to a mother still in high school and a father in a juvenile detention facility.