Profile
Dreaming of Success
My family moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States in the 1980s and began their journey towards the American Dream. Washington Heights became their new home and community. No matter how much they worked, they found time to read, learn and teach us what they learned along with their traditions. As their first American-born child and their youngest, I've always felt I had something to prove.
A Student of Washington Heights
My love for learning and community expanded during my years as a student at two District 6 schools; P.S. 128 and I.S. 164 in Washington Heights.
My parents enrolled me in afterschool programs where I would soon discover sports and community-based organizations (CBOs) like the Police Athletic League (PAL), Workers of Wonder (WOW) and Fresh Youth Initiatives (FYI).
From volunteering in food drives and cleaning up parks to making it to basketball practices, the feeling of giving back and belonging to a community, has always been rewarding!
Full Circle
As a teenager, I mentored young children by helping them with homework and their basketball skills. In the summer time, volunteering as a camp counselor in PAL through SYEP, allowed me motivate and empower them to discover their capabilities and strengths through art, music and sports.
But it wasn't until I had my own children, that I truly understood the ways that children need their parents to be involved in their educational journey and community building. Everything that I became a part of can be linked to the single action my parents took by being involved as much as they could. They opened the doors of opportunity for me.
Now, it's my turn to step up not only for my family but for all families in our District 6 Community.