Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
I first became passionate about public policy while working in Detroit, where I saw firsthand the inequitable living conditions many residents faced. As I knocked on doors for a Michigan State Representative, I heard stories of mistrust and systemic failure, which fueled my desire to pursue a career focused on lifting up those who have been left behind. This commitment evolved into a passion for public transportation, which I see as a bridge to opportunity for all. My academic journey included a pivotal class on urban Sprawl, where I discovered my interest in regional governance, YIMBYism, and affordable housing. This led me to earn a Master's in Public Policy with a Master's Minor in Urban Planning.
I gathered, cleaned, and collected data from various sources to create a central database of over 2,000 businesses and cultural/creative institutions in the cultural districts of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. I used this database to analyze post-2020 recovery trends using Excel, R, and ArcGIS to evaluate grant efficacy and identify ongoing community. I also worked with local district partners to verify data and gather narratives via surveys and interviews. These efforts have culminated in a comprehensive report using quantitative data and qualitative storytelling to highlight the role of local businesses and cultural/creative institutions in neighborhood recovery and resilience.
I helped support a variety of transportation planning-related activities. This included compiling meeting notes, facilitating stakeholder meetings, and creating GIS assets, Excel spreadsheets, and Word memos. During this time, I was involved with several major projects. I helped lead a congestion analysis project in partnership with MnDOT, resulting in the creation of GIS assets for future corridor analysis. I was involved in the development of the Council's 2050 Transportation Policy Plan by helping organize and facilitate meetings, providing policy input, and peer-reviewing fellow Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) policies to identify best practices. I used R Studio to analyze survey results from the Travel Behavior Survey, creating informative graphs to include in a presentation about the changes between 2019, 2021, and 2023 in the travel behavior of Twin City residents. I also helped use ArcGIS Pro to update the Council's Functional Highway Classification system, which hadn't been done since before the pandemic.
I provided a variety of constituent relations, policy research, and administrative duties during my legislative internship. Most significantly, I helped read, input, and analyze thousands of constituent emails using the Minnesota House's constituent tracking system. I created monthly issue reports from this data to help inform Rep. Hornstein's legislative priorities. I attended every Transportation Housing Committee, helping to set up and take down meetings, taking committee notes, and tracking relevant legislation. I also helped to research policies regarding Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and regional governance, developing policy recommendations for reform of the Metropolitan Council.
Despite being at Verizon for a relatively short time and being only part-time, I was consistently in the top two rankings for sales and customer satisfaction in my store. I explained and sold products from the point of view of being an advocate, helping customers find solutions for their needs. I helped to ensure a positive and empathetic customer experience by utilizing Verizon's core values and my technology knowledge in offering tailored solutions.