I was born and raised in San Francisco’s Fillmore District, pre-gentrification. It was a very different place, more communitites of color. I grew up around drugs, and listened to violence. I watched the crack epidemic destroy a community. I watched it destroy families, including people in my birth family. Despite the hardships, it was home. I eventually grew up and watched gentrification “clean up” the area I lived. I worked, went to college and eventually graduate school. I traveled, had a good job, bought a house, and sold it at the right time. Life seemed pretty good until a gluten-related illness pretty much took over my life. Since then I’ve given birth to an amazing son who will turn 9 in June. I’ve fortunately taken back my health, but have had to endure some pretty extreme financial hardships. I studied Holistic Nutrition and started a business. I’ve looked for outside work for over 3 years now, and mostly have had temp jobs. Due to the housing issues, we experienced housing instability for over a year. Fortunately, I am working more and we’ve had more stability in the last couple months than we’ve had since we moved from our home in January 2015. I’ve lived on and off in Oakland since the late 90’s and look at it as home as does my son. Despite the current housing problems in Oakland, it’s where I am raising my son for now. He is a great child and goes to an amazing school, and stability is very important for me, for us. I have a clean bill of health, and a very clear vision of the life I’m creating for both me and my son. My dream is to create more than enough financial stability so that I can raise my son comfortably, travel, and fund programs I believe truly help people who want a better life for themselves and their children.