My aim is to use my lived experiences, combined with my training as a social scientist, to contribute toward a better societal understanding of the challenges faced by someone who has personally experienced trauma, poverty, homelessness, street survival, incarceration, and mental health struggles.

As a former child ward of the State of Oregon and a formerly incarcerated person, I have spent much of my life in institutions and otherwise surrounded by addiction and violence, gangs, and formerly and presently incarcerated men and women. 

I sincerely hope that in working to map the path of my lived experiences, I can help others steer clear of the hardship & dangers I encountered along my own journey as well as the ones I  tactfully avoided. 

I also hope my story helps raise awareness to the possibilities of empowerment through education and devotion of resources instead of pursuing persistent policies of criminalization and imprisonment that are simply  unsustainable.