The North Carolina State Senate is the upper body of the North Carolina Legislature and consists of 50 members who serve a term of two years. Each member represents an average of 190,710 residents, as of the 2010 Census. The Senate elects officers from their membership including the President Pro Tempore.The North Carolina General Assembly, of which the Senate is a part, is to convene a new regular session every two years. The NC legislature makes decisions on the budget: taxes, tax credits, economic development, education funding, Pre-K, the courts, Medicaid, etc. It also passes laws that set environmental standards such as water and air quality, tax rates, tax credits, criminal justice. Legislators in both chambers serve two-year terms without term limits. Sessions begin at noon on the third Wednesday after the second Monday in January.
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Position/philosophy statement
I am Fighting for Justice, Focused on Solutions with a vision of Social Economic and Environmental Justice.
Current Occupation
Consultant
Campaign Phone
9196277044
As an organizer and two-term Durham City Council member, I have been deeply engaged in building a more just and fair Durham. If elected to the State Senate, I would continue my work to advance policies that dismantle structural inequities, protect civil and human rights, and invest in people and our communities that have been historically excluded. Guided by the words of Dr. King that “injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere”, I am committed to building a North Carolina where we build dignity, opportunity, and shared prosperity collectively.
Of all the issues confronting our state, injustice is the single most important challenge we face because it shapes every other outcome in our district and in our state.
For as long as I have lived in North Carolina, I have been an advocate for a just and fair Durham, North Carolina rooted in our shared humanity, with solutions that support families, people with disabilities, caregivers, workers, tenants, and small business owners. Understanding how the intersecting realities faced by low-wealth communities, lower wealth workers and lower fixed income households place people at the greatest margins of vulnerability, and how those disparities are directly tied to state laws and policies that too often favor corporations.
Our priority must be strengthening public schools so that every child, regardless of zip code or background, has access to a high-quality education. Public investments should focus on raising teacher pay, expanding student supports, like counselors and tutors, improving school infrastructure including aging facilities, technology, and addressing mental health needs through increased access to school-based services.
Education policy must center equity, affordability, and student well-being. Public dollars should not be diverted to private institutions when our public schools have unmet needs and the state has failed to meet its constitutional obligations under the Leandro decision.
Tax policy should build shared prosperity, rather than deepen inequality. North Carolina needs a fair, progressive tax system that asks corporations and the wealthiest to pay their fair share, closes loopholes, and ends giveaways that lack public benefit.
Our Tax dollars (revenue) should be reinvested in public education, affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, clean water, and resilient infrastructure.
Tax incentives need accountability built in including living wages, local hiring, workforce training, and respect for workers’ right to organize. Strong tax policy should also give local governments the resources and flexibility to meet the community needs without shifting more costs onto residents.
Access to healthcare is public safety, which is why I support shifting our state Medicaid to Medicare for All so every North Carolinian can access physical and mental health care without financial barriers. True community safety comes from dignity, prevention, and access to care. Then we can decriminalize the mental health crises by investing in treatment, crisis response teams, and supportive services instead of incarceration.
Working to end voter suppression and protect civil rights, because strong democracies create safer, more trusting communities. Also moving away from the Dillon Rule toward greater Home Rule, giving local governments the authority to implement community-informed solutions that address safety at the local level.
As a community leader dedicated to equity, I work to develop policies that strengthen families, protect our environment, and build an economy that works for everyone.
My journey is shaped by lived experience and decades of service, grounding me in compassion, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to justice. With over 20 years in nonprofit leadership and eight years on the Durham City Council building local, state and national policy advocacy and policy making, I understand both the urgency of community needs and the complexities of local governance.
My professional experience strengthening family and community resources with financial institutions across the country has helped expand investment in historically marginalized communities and fuel sustainable economic growth. I bring a proven ability to navigate complex systems, build coalitions, and deliver results, with a clear focus on shared prosperity and a sustainable future for the future generations.
