Four years ago, I ran for a position in CAPS-UAW leadership because I decided enough was enough. I ran because I was tired of being underpaid, disrespected, and denied basic rights like paid family leave to care for my dad, who was diagnosed with (and beat!) a rare bone-marrow cancer. Things had to change. 

And…change we did! In just a few short years, together, we have accomplished what many once thought was impossible: led the first strike of State civil servants in California history, affiliated with UAW, ratified a contract after years of stalemate, defeated asinine return-to-office policies, and so much more. 

None of these victories came from a single leader or a small group “at the top”. They were won because we stood together, organized, and took bold action. That is the heart of my vision: power doesn’t trickle down, it rises from us, the workers. Our union must be militant, democratic, and truly member-led.  

Over the last four years, I’ve had the honor of serving as CAPS-UAW District II Director, Bargaining Chair, President, and, since earlier this year, have made our union my career as a full-time CAPS-UAW staff member as Union Coordinator. Throughout my various roles, I’ve worked relentlessly to make that vision a reality, I’ve helped planned and facilitated our first organizing retreat, led Solidarity Breaks, Power Hours, worksite meetings, developed and implemented a Know Your Rights (KYR) training program and trained KYR facilitators, supported developing grievance handlers, and coordinated meet and confers. I’ve planned actions such as rallies and petition deliveries, and empowered members to lead direct actions targeting their department management. I co-drafted two bills that our union sponsored, both of which successfully made it through the legislature before being vetoed by the Governor (we’ll be back). I’ve organized lobby days and trained members to speak directly with lawmakers…because who better to tell the story of State Scientists than us, the workers? I’ve helped transform CAPS-UAW into a union that fights like hell. 

I started this journey with zero formal union experience and have worked relentlessly to intimately understand every single aspect of ours and the opportunities we have as part of the larger labor movement. I’ve learned to start with the end in mind, expect resistance from management, stay grounded in what I can control, and build power collectively, strategically, and sustainably…which is built on relentless 1-on-1 organizing. I am ruthless in my pursuit to empower people to fight and dismantle the structures that are actively working to diminish our power as workers, and be proactive in building the power we need to get what we deserve.

I believe in the power of workers with every ounce of my being. I’ve been told I/we can’t do something because it’s never been done before, or because “that’s just the way it is” more times than I can count. I’m not afraid of being wrong (which I am, often), but I am damn sure afraid of being stagnant and refuse to let the fear of the unknown prevent us from taking chances on meaningful change. We are living in an era where workers are under an insidious attack in every single area of our lives. We are not bystanders in our own existence, and we have no choice but to organize, to fight, and to win. 

It has been one of the biggest honors of my life to serve alongside you in different capacities over the last four years, as we tirelessly transform CAPS-UAW into a member-led, militant, ready-to-take-on-anything-that-comes-our-way union that truly puts organizing and building the power we have together as workers at the center of everything we do. I am running for re-election as your CAPS-UAW President to continue this work, to build supermajority membership and participation in every action, win a powerful 2027 contract, expand our democracy, and ensure that the voices of State Scientists shape the future of science and labor in California and beyond. I look forward to continuing to serve State Scientists and the broader labor movement as CAPS-UAW President.