In 2008, while standing side by side with my teachers during a faculty strike, I had visions of my future. It was a long day and a lot of standing, but I was fighting for something. I was fighting for myself, my teachers, and my school Kester Elementary.  For the first time, I felt I was doing something and that I wasn't just a kid, I was a fighter just like everybody else.  Of course, I didn’t fully understand the complexities of labor rights or educational policy at the time, but I understood justice, and the importance of standing up for what’s right. Since then, it's been who I am--an advocate. 

Needless to say, the experiences I’ve had and the memories I’ve made in Sherman Oaks have made me the woman I am today. I’ve lived in Sherman Oaks, specifically Area One ,since 2004, when my family moved from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I was four years old. Most of my “firsts” happened here: my first movie at the Galleria, my first swim at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park, and my first (and last) attempt at learning to ride a bike. I spent countless birthdays and weekends celebrating occasions at  Castle Park. When I think of Sherman Oaks, I think of home.

​

From a young age, I have been deeply committed to serving my community. I’ve spent hours collecting donations for our local animal shelters, I’ve worked at the polls during presidential elections, and I’ve worked to keep our community members safe and informed by initiating critical initiatives with the Los Angeles Unified School District. I have seen with my own eyes what is possible when a community comes together and I strongly believe real change starts from the ground up.

 

I spent my collegiate years at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania where I pursued my passions and studied International Relations. I grew stronger in my advocacy and settled into who I am. Even though physically at Bucknell, my heart has always remained in Sherman Oaks.

Since earning my B.A.,  I have continued to give back. I’ve taught English to migrants and refugees, served as a youth champion with the UNHCR, advocated for poverty reduction, and advised on the future of education and technology. Though these jobs may be different they all reached the core of what I believe: elevating community voices and building more inclusive systems that keep the people they serve at the forefront. Now, with the experiences I have garnered I think it’s time to bring them home. 

I’m running for Neighborhood Council because local leadership matters. I'm running to give back to my community.

Our neighborhood deserves a representative who understands its past and is ready to help shape its future.