As a junior at San Jose State I developed a strong interest for urban planning after learning about it in an environmental sustainability course lecture. I told one of my mentors - Jahmal Williams - about my career goals, and he suggested that I apply for BAHIP. I discovered my passion for affordable housing in a poverty and wealth course at SJSU. When I was informed of the opportunity to get involved in affordable housing development, I knew it was my time to take advantage.

This internship has changed my entire life to say the least. Not only was I able to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit me in the affordable housing development world,  I was also able to develop a unique consciousness along the way. While many others see homelessness as a problem caused by homeless individuals themselves, I see a systematic issue stemming from exclusion, a significant lack of resources, and an even bigger lack of access to affordable housing.

Growing up in Los Angeles, homelessness is something you see regularly and it is common to know someone dealing with housing insecurities. My time with First Community Housing made me realize that one of my purposes in life is to develop affordable housing and provide people in communities of all kinds with the necessary housing-related resources. At this point, "passionate" is be an understatement to describe how I feel about the career path I am on.
In time I will build my own development company, and will create affordable housing all over Los Angeles, especially in South Central, Inglewood, Compton, Watts and other communities of color.