Exterior view of two high schools, one with a modern brick facade and large windows, the other with a concrete and red accents, surrounded by trees and open space.

Educational institutions need funding, support, and policy shifts.

District 21 schools are greatly impacted and have been for decades. However, the test scores, school closures, news headlines are not actually indicative of the people that live in these communities. I have met these families, I have shaken the hands of grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. I have talked through learning with countless youth. Children get one public school education and too much of their education has been spent by continual votes to decrease funding, over test students, and publicize scores without context and understanding.

A rainbow pride flag with a white and pink bisexual pride flag in the middle, flying outdoors with a building and parking lot in the background.

LGBTQ+ Rights and Protections

I have stood with my coworkers, students and community to ensure that they have the ability to discuss their family, feel seen in what they do and have access to the health care that they need. No one deserves to live in fear and we need to center LGBTQ voices and protect trans people. Suicide is the leading cause of death for students in Colorado and trans individuals have the highest suicide rate of any particular group. That is not something we can ignore and something we need to all speak about in public spaces where our neighbors are under attack and being othered in the news daily. 

Front of a small brick building with a sign reading "Fred's Breakfast Burritos" on top and a banner announcing "Grand Opening" at the bottom.

Small businesses need support to start up, stay open, maintain staff, and resources.

I have seen buildings continue to struggle and get replaced by chains all over District 21. Why is it necessary to build a Dunkin Donuts right down the street from a Winchells on Federal? Why are we tearing down sections of small businesses like the Zumba dance studio and Fred’s Breakfast Burritos to build an empty warehouse on 70th and Broadway. Why are there more and more gas stations popping up when people just need a neighborhood grocery store instead? I want Coloradans to feel like they can be ambitious in not only starting a small business that is very much needed in their neighborhood but also stay open and maintain their business over time.

A woman wearing glasses and a black headband holding a blue protest sign that reads, "I'M STICKING WITH MY UNION," with a red checkmark inside the letter O, during a public demonstration. She is wearing a blue shirt and has a blue jacket tied around her waist. In the background, another protestor wearing a red face mask, blue hoodie, and glasses is visible, holding a similar sign. The scene appears to be outdoors on a sunny day.

Workers rights, labor unions, and the right to organize.

I am a member of a union and I have seen the changes that we can make by coming together and working towards a common goal. This includes healthcare, livable wages, retirement plans, etc. I have been part of conversations around organization, I have been to the state capital, I have marched with CSEA this year, and I stand in solidarity with Sheridan School District Educators as they prepare for a strike. It’s important that unions are more accessible to more laborers because collective bargaining levels the playing field for workers.

Red billboard with white text reading 'Community is Strength.' and smaller text below saying 'Be strong. Let's look out for one another.'

Community Based Resources

As a former SNAP and Medicaid recipient I know the dehumanizing that comes with this process. I have listened to the news continually talk about restrictions on the foods and items that recipients can buy. But I would ask you to consider people’s dignity. I believe that community resources should be available to all who need them. The stigma does not need to be exacerbated by complicated and unnecessary regulations. It should not take healthcare providers months to qualify to serve Medicaid recipients when patients also are waiting for years to just see a primary care provider. These regulations waste everyone’s time and prevent people from receiving the care and support they need.

A red wallet tipped over on a white marble surface, with US dollar bills and coins spilling out.

Housing and Cost of Living

We need to ensure that people are housed. Yes, temporary housing is helpful and renting is also something that many people choose. But many people do not want to rent for their entire lives and they no longer want to be victims of landlords raising rent year after year. Working people need long-term solutions that support them throughout each transition of their life: first-time purchases, growing family, multi-generational homes, and retirement. Homes need to be available to people that need them, not just private equity firms and landlords. We need to increase benefits to folks who want to live here permanently and those that need to reassess their needs. 

Protesters gathered on a city street holding signs that say "STOP KILLING!" and "WE STAND with MINNEAPOLIS." The scene is at night with building lights and decorative streetlights.

ICE and our neighbors’ safety

I teach multilingual learners, many of whom are new to this country or are first generation United States citizens. I see their fear around ICE operations and know that daily we all worry about what would happen. What would the day look like when ICE finally decides to come into our schools? What does it look like when our neighbors disappear off the streets? Do we even know it is happening? How are we still seeing the deregulation of the state of these detention centers? Our neighbors are people and deserve dignity. We have large-size detention centers and are now discovering small-size detention centers throughout the state. This entire department needs to be abolished and immigration process needs to be reformed.

Interior of a data center with rows of server racks on either side, with an aisle in the middle, and exposed ceiling with structural beams and lighting.

AI regulations, data centers, energy, and pollution.

Data centers and artificial intelligence need more policy and regulation. We must hold companies accountable to the energy and water that they are using and know more about the health impact to our community. We also need to call in experts around policy concerning data and privacy in order to protect our constituents, their labor, our public goods, and the right to privacy. This is urgent and needs to be addressed quickly. District 21 is highly impacted by pollution, energy companies, and trash disposal. We need to be mindful and have systems in place like carbon taxing that hold companies accountable to their impact. This ensures we protect not just employees or neighbors of these companies, but also all of District 21, Colorado, and our planet.

View of a hallway in a jail or prison, seen through metal bars, with cell doors lining both sides and fluorescent lighting overhead.

Corrections and Rehabilitation

I intend to visit every correctional facility within the district to see conditions firsthand and see conditions for myself. I am committed to the well-being of inmates but we need solutions that are more nuanced than just throwing money at the problem to make it disappear. Inmates are real people with real and diverse problems. They deserve dignity as they navigate rehabilitation. We need to rethink our overcrowded system and include constituents and experts in this discussion. The problem is not getting better and we need to get to the root cause rather than accepting the status quo or turning immediately to privatization.