I grew up in Camas, Washington and moved up to the Kitsap Peninsula in 2007 to watch my sister’s house and fur family while she was on deployment in the Navy. I immediately fell in love with the area. I found the people to be welcoming, made friends easily, and the natural beauty to be the best in the state.

I got an associates degree from Olympic College and have worked in a variety fields. Which includes retail, banking, warehouses, insurance, food manufacturing, storage facilities, foreclosures and currently in finance. I have spent my entire adult life living paycheck to paycheck and up until 2023, I was living in the aid gap. I did not qualify for assistance, but did not make enough to live. Like many in Washington, every unexpected expense ended up on my credit card because I could never save enough to have an emergency savings. Every dollar I earned went to my living expenses.

I am the child of an addict and have had to heal from childhood PTSD from living with an abusive parent.

I am living with bi-polar disorder, that has thankfully been completely under control since 2022. I take a medication that RFK Jr. has threatened to take away from those who need it. I spent a lot of time navigating our broken healthcare system to receive mental health care. I have lost jobs and opportunities due to my condition. Under our broken system, although I have had multiple cases of discrimination under the ADA, I could never afford the time nor a lawyer to seek justice.

I am a queer woman that happily lives with the two best dogs on earth. I have an incredible support system of family and friends that I am thankful for. I often think about how fortunate I’ve been to have them to keep me housed and fed during times of unemployment, medical leave, and finding a new way in life.