Occupation: I am a special education paraeducator and currently a special education major.

Family: I live with my mom, Jenn; my stepdad, Keith; and my sisters, Emma and Addison.

Pets: My rescue dog is Bailey.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I have lived in Newtown since 2001.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to go see live music. I have a lot of good friends who play in local bands in the Connecticut music scene that I love to go and support. I also love to watch Bravo; my mom and I have been bonding over Real Housewives since I was in middle school.

What is your favorite book? The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur. I love poetry and she is one of my favorites.

What is your favorite travel destination? Burlington, Vermont and Montauk, New York. I love both the mountains and the beach.

What is the best part about Newtown? I have met some really great people living here. I also love the schools, the breweries, and the nature. We have some really great hiking spots and you can frequently find me walking in Fairfield Hills.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? I helped found Newtown Allies For Change, which I am extremely passionate about. I believe that Newtown is a great town, but we also have a long way to go when it comes to racial equality. I am so fortunate to be working along with so many amazing community members who share the same values that I do.

Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My mom, by far. She raised me as a single mother and I see that as one of the biggest strengths any woman could have. She has taught me the most about staying true to yourself and women’s empowerment, or as my beloved Spice Girls say, “Girl Power!” I also admire her for how she advocates for my sister and other children with special needs. She truly is Super Woman, and I can only hope to be half of the mom that she is.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? If I could spend the day with one person, it would be my Nana. She passed away in my early 20s from throat cancer. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her. There are so many things I wish I could talk to her about; she gave the best advice. She was always in my corner, no matter if I was wrong or right. I miss her so much, and I wish we could have one more day together.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I love pretty much all music, and it’s a huge part of my life. I listen to everything from Simon & Garfunkel to Jay-Z to Dave Matthews Band.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? The greatest piece of advice I have ever been given is to be easy on myself. I am my toughest critic and I get anxious from time to time. Sometimes I have to remember that I am only one person and can only do so much.

What is something you cannot live without? I cannot live without my heating pad! Sometimes it’s my lifeline. I have endometriosis, which is a reproductive disorder and can be very painful. Heat is one of the only things that really helps. Sometimes my mom and stepdad joke that I am attached to it, and they’re pretty much right.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment thus far has been organizing the Rally 4 Change with Newtown Allies For Change. I felt so compelled to do something with the racial injustices happening in this country and I felt it was important to start at home in Newtown. I was lucky enough to find so many people who wanted to help and also people who were willing to share their stories of what it is to be a person of color in Newtown. It was extremely powerful; it was a true call to change, and I hope to continue that work with the amazing people in the group. We have work to do in Newtown, but I am confident that we will make some serious change towards equality and making Newtown accepting of all. Black Lives Matter!