Breaking the Chasm: My Four-Year Journey in Politics and Beyond
The capacity to love runs deep within me. For reasons I cannot fully understand, God has blessed me with a resilient heart that absorbs energy, stress, and pain—only to let it go and turn chaos into harmony. While I have my trusted circle to lean on, I have found a calling in bringing people and situations together with minimal strife. It’s a gift I never knew I’d need until I stepped into the world of politics.
For over a decade, I worked as a court reporter—a solitary profession, spending long hours hunched over my laptop, listening to stories of injustice, heartbreak, and dysfunction. I fell into the career by chance at the age of 19, answering a Craigslist ad for a receptionist job. With no idea what I was stepping into, I walked into the interview brimming with enthusiasm. That same enthusiasm carried me through years of hearing, over and over, the ways in which America’s systems are broken. Court reporting taught me a lot about the human condition, but it also exposed the deep flaws in our legal and governmental structures. People screwing each other over. Greed running rampant. Governments designed to squeeze the average citizen with mandates, fees, and inefficiencies. Over time, I began to see the cracks not just in our legal system but in the very foundation of our nation’s institutions.
Then I had children, and everything changed.
When you’re on your own, it’s easy to be self-focused. But when you have children—when you’re responsible for preserving something precious for generations to come—you become compassionate and empathetic in ways you never imagined. My upbringing wasn’t easy. It was a patchwork of smoke, mirrors, and forging my own path. But it made me strong, independent, and resilient. That resilience became my driving force, pushing me to confront the broken systems I had witnessed for so long and to work toward something greater than myself.
My entry into politics was unconventional. After the 2020 election—a moment of profound disillusionment for me—I felt called to act. Fueled by a mix of frustration and a couple of glasses of wine, I emailed a local activist and wrote, “Anything I can do, tag me in, coach.” A few weeks later, I found myself on the roster for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District Republican Committee. It wasn’t my first foray into political engagement. Back in 2017, I became a precinct delegate after attending a rally that filled me with hope. But like many, I quickly grew disenchanted by the lack of direction and connection in the role. I didn’t run again. Yet after the 2020 election, something reignited in me. I attended my first meeting with the 11th CDRC, agreed to be outreach director despite knowing little about outreach, and began learning on the fly.
God planted a fire in my heart for people. I wanted everyone to see what I saw—the opportunity to make a difference, one meaningful connection at a time. Events I helped organize gained attention, raised funds, and brought people together in ways I hadn’t expected. That success led me to the Oakland County Republican Party, where I spent two years empowering precinct delegates, organizing events, recruiting candidates, and building a model for others to follow. From there, I stepped into campaign work, joining Sandy Pensler’s U.S. Senate race. It was a trial by fire, teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience, loyalty, and the cutthroat nature of campaigns. Later, I joined Sunny Reddy’s statewide race, where I discovered the importance of minority outreach. Sunny showed me that Republicans must do more to engage immigrant communities—to make people feel heard and understood.
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That’s when I realized what drives me most: people. It’s not about partisanship or political labels; it’s about loving your neighbor, showing compassion, and building bridges. True conservatism, at its core, is unstoppable when rooted in love and empathy. Over the past four years, I’ve seen the best and worst of politics. I’ve seen self-interest overshadow service, watched as elected officials prioritize power over principle, and felt the sting of being sidelined for challenging the status quo. But I’ve also witnessed moments of genuine connection—moments when people come together, not for fame or fortune, but to fight for something bigger than themselves. I believe in turning pain into purpose. The government may not be the answer, but people are. Change comes from meaningful relationships, thoughtful fundraising, and candidates who serve the people, not their egos. It’s not easy to find those rare individuals with no agenda but a pure heart. But I’ve learned that with the right connections, constant communication, and unwavering support, we can make life better for millions.
As I step into this new chapter with Popular Strategies, my consulting and fundraising firm, I’m focused on building those connections. My goal is to be the light that sparks others’ potential, to help candidates, nonprofits, and communities achieve their goals with integrity and purpose.
The system is broken, but hope is not lost. Through collaboration, compassion, and resilience, we can bridge the chasm between politicians and the people they serve. We can restore trust, one conversation at a time
This journey is just beginning, and I’d be honored to have you alongside me. Subscribe, connect, and let’s create something meaningful together.