For me, advocacy started long before my career in the nonprofit world. A corporate business leader turned stay-at-home Mom, I quickly became an advocate from working with my son due to his Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis and the lack of understanding of the condition in education. When the local school system recognized me as a strong voice, I was asked to help other families who struggled with similar special needs situations. This ignited my reentry into the workforce and sparked a career of service – being a doer to drive change. I started providing in-home behavior therapies and school aid for children with nonverbal autism. Eventually, I became a friendly visitor volunteer for the local Meals on Wheels. Soon after, I was hired to manage the volunteer program and worked my way up to become the organization’s Community Engagement Director. And I knew I had found where I was supposed to be.During my time there, I was invited to join the Meals on Wheels CA Legislative Committee and the County’s Area Agency on Aging Legislation Work Group, bringing me a closer understanding of state policy’s impacts on older adults. When the agency experienced a leadership change, I worked with an interim Executive Director to help transition operations before leaving to engage in matters of state.Working as Senior District Representative for State Senator Steve Glazer, I was tasked with representing the senator at public events and managing community and local government relations. Because of my proven experience and solution-driven approach, I was designated as the senator’s representative to focus on social services and senior issues.In 2020, during the height of COVID, I campaigned to become a Brentwood City Council member, running in part to be the voice for the large older adult and senior living facility population in my district. At the start of 2023, I was nominated by our city's mayor and voted in by council as Vice Mayor for a two year term.In early 2022, I left the senate to re-enter the nonprofit world as Empowered Aging’s Director of Programs, where I led program administration. And in July of 2022, I was appointed Executive Director. It’s a true honor to serve my community with Empowered Aging because I get to be actively involved in doing the good work, bringing a voice to a group of people who are often forgotten, and driving forward initiatives that help them thrive.Whether you need help or someone you know is in search of support or necessary resources, please call us at 925-685-2070 or email us at info@empoweredaging.org.