Growing up in a working class home and being exposed to the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck was a huge concern to me. Moving forward, I think I have an obligation to ensure that people have access to family-sustaining jobs. Also, when looking at systems of oppression that exist today, it's important for me to play a role in creating a more equitable society.

- You can learn a lot from ordinary people.
- People have the power to change their own lives, but need the confidence to do it continuously.
- We can only be a part of sustainable movement building if we are developing new leaders constantly.

Working in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I find myself most influenced by the lack of political involvement of the Latino community. I feel that if Latinos were more engaged in the political process here at home, we would have a very different discourse about regional issues that was more inclusive to the needs of minorities.