Where I’ve Been

In the last 22 years I have called four unique places home. First, it was the deep south of Birmingham, Alabama, then rural areas of Southwest Virginia, then Charlottesville. Finally and gradually, it has become a quaint city boasting a university that was kind enough to let me in, Williamsburg.

This is how my story with this place and this school starts out in great gratitude. Feeling somewhat nomadic, my homes changed as my parents’ jobs did and I moved to greet them, until one seemed to welcome me. In two days after the late offer in May, I had submitted all the necessary acceptance paperwork and was excited to be coming here, especially as the only person in my graduating class doing so. I wondered how to get involved…

It was in a class where I found my avenue to channel this appreciation. Fresh off of handily losing the Class of 2020 Presidential election, I was searching for a purpose outside of the classroom. Assigned to speak on “any social issue,” I researched regional poverty and was surprised to find there was significant homelessness around and, no, not many people talk of it.

I went on to give a speech to supportive and curious classmates. The selfless spirit of William & Mary shines through with every subsequent conversation I have on the topic. The response from peers is always a sincere, “so how can we help??” As a freshman wondering the same, I decided to start engaging local government.

Fast forward three years and I’ve had the great fortune of a term on the City’s Planning Commission and a summer as the City’s Economic Development Intern. As a citizen, I’ve also been able to organize student-run efforts for donating food, clothes, and funds to the House of Mercy, Williamsburg’s only full-service homeless shelter, and WJCC Schools, to reduce elementary school lunch debt. 

Involvements in the City have been an incredible way to learn about Williamsburg, especially as a student simultaneously. I have gained a greater understanding of our inner workings and what can be worked on. Approaching graduation, I realized that I wanted to stay in Williamsburg as an innovative City Councilor to make our City more vibrant and inclusive.

Knowing how much William & Mary has changed and will change my life, I hope to serve this community in return. 

What I’ve Done

• August 2016

  • Freshman Year at William & Mary

• August 2016

  • Went to my first church service at the Bruton Parish Church

• April 2017

  • Applied for the City’s Neighborhood Relations Committee, Planning Commission, and Economic Development Authority

• June 2017

  • Unsuccessfully interviewed for a vacancy on the City’s Planning Commission

• August 2017

  • Sophomore Year

• September 2017

  • Joined Greater City, a club for making friendships and delivering food to local, housing-challenged residents of Williamsburg.

• October 2017

  • 1st place in the 2017 Fall Impact Week grant competition. This project donated $2,400 in waterproof boots and almost 500 articles of clothing to the House of Mercy.

• November 2017

  • Appointed to the City’s Public Housing Advisory Committee

• March 2018

  • 3rd place in the 2018 Spring Impact Week grant competition. This project gave $1,400 in non-perishable food to local housing complexes. 

• June 2018

  • Started my summer job as the City of Williamsburg’s Economic Development Intern, researching the City’s unoccupied commercial spaces.

• July 2018

  • Appointed as SA Undersecretary of Williamsburg Affairs

• August 2018

  • Junior Year

• September 2018

  • Appointed to the City’s Planning Commission to fulfill a partial term.

• February 2019

  • Started work at Candid in Williamsburg for 6 months as their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Outreach Coordinator working to encourage nonprofits and funders to share demographic information on our platform.

• March 2019

  • 1st place in the 2019 Fall Impact Week grant competition. This project donated almost $4,000 in kitchen equipment and waterproof boots to the House of Mercy.

• April 2019

  • Facilitated a dinner between William & Mary students and officers from WMPD and WPD.

• July 2019

  • Completed a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 to fight local homelessness in Williamsburg. This money went to running a clothes drive on campus that donated over 500 articles of clothing and the House of Mercy’s Rehousing Fund.

• August 2019

  • Senior Year

• August 2019

  • Orientation Aide on Yates basement

• December 2019

  • Facilitated a dinner between William & Mary students and officers from WMPD and WPD.

• December 2019

  • Completed a partial term on the City’s Planning Commission.

• February 25 - May 19, 2020

  • Announced, campaigned, and won a seat on the City Council!

• July 1, 2020

  • Sworn in to a four-year term of office