During my career, I have held leadership positions as a social justice advocate, development professional, educator, non-profit executive, asset-based youth program director, and leader in the inclusion movement. As part of these varied positions, I became a seasoned development professional, grant writer, and project manager. I am also a recognized disability advocate. Additionally, I developed and directed the first Dual Enrollment Program at Urban College of Boston and managed their first federal work-study program.After identifying unmet needs for underserved populations, I cultivated and directed cross-sector collaborations, diverse teams, and sustainable programs from the ground up for K-12 school systems, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations. I was instrumental in creating one of the most effective transitional skills development programs in the nation for students at the Boston Public School with a range of disabilitiesWhile creating and directing programs and partnerships with diverse memberships, I raised millions of dollars to support the efforts from public and private sources and strategies. I also worked on the "other side of the desk" as a grants maker and program officer to ensure the efficacy of funded services.My main focus has been on dismantling systemic barriers to the workforce, education, and healthcare services and opportunities experienced by low-income BIPOC urban youth and adults and other people who have historically been oppressed. From my first role as an art therapist to becoming a community organizer to more recent leadership positions in social justice and development, my goal remains to facilitate inclusive, equitable, and accessible education, employment, housing, and other opportunities and outcomes for diverse populations.