About Me

Hello, I'm Abby! I grew up in a small city based in Northern California called Redding. Since Redding is located in a valley, it's insanely hot in the Summer- but the multiple lakes surrounding the city cools everyone off. While I didn't appreciate living there as a teenager, I love going back to visit my mom who lives close by.

Unlike many of my friends, I didn't feel ready for college right out of high school. I knew that I wanted to help people, but I didn't know exactly where to start. So, I joined a non-profit organization based out of Madison, Wisconsin at 18 years old. This organizations mission was to aid refugees (at that time, mostly Syrian refugees) in whatever way possible. In Madison we facilitated literacy programs, mentorship programs (for adults and children), built community gardens, connected families with housing and community programs. I also had the opportunity to travel to Cyprus to offer aid at refugee camps. I was in this organization for two years before I returned home to Redding.

After my time at the non-profit, I still didn't feel ready to pursue a Bachelors degree- so I decided to get my EMT certification. I worked as an EMT in Las Vegas for two years, which exposed me to some of the harsh realities people face, specifically people living in poverty. It was during my time as an EMT that I discovered how important community centers, social workers, mentorships, literacy coaches, affordable housing, food stamps, etc. are to underprivileged communities. This realization led me to finally starting my Bachelors degree, with the goal of creating safe, happy and healthy communities. 

Six years later, I'm married to a man in the Coast Guard, which has been the catalyst for our many moves to San Francisco, Boston and now Los Angeles. Over the years I worked at Starbucks while obtaining my B.S. in Communications (December 2024). My hope post- grad is that I will use the skills I learned during my time working with refugees, skills I learned as an EMT, and my Communications degree knowledge to make a difference in local communities. My dream is to work as a community organizer or volunteer coordinator for an organization that I feel makes a positive difference.