I first started Youth Organizing in New Haven, CT while working for a youth media organization called Youth Rights Media. While working at YRM on a campaign to close a youth prison, I was first exposed to the realities of the School To Prison Pipeline and the impact it had on not only the young people caught up in the juvenile justice system, but the community as a whole. 

Working with young people became a passion of mine that continues to drive my work today. After being moved to an all white suburb of CT for high school, my understanding of society and my role in it transformed forever. I chose to dedicate my life to organizing young people for  Social Justice and revolution as did the many young people I had read about throughout history.

The current neo-liberal assault on public education has not only pitted students vs teachers, but it's impact will have negative affects on communities of color for generations to come. Teachers Unite was the first organization I had seen that was truly committed to working to restore the relationship between teachers/schools and communities in a real and authentic way with the sole goal of fighting together for the schools both students and teachers deserve. 

I make time for TU because these teachers let their actions speak for themselves. As a director of a youth organization it has been a transforming experience being able to work with teachers who are unafraid to not only fight for their students, for their colleagues, and for the communities they work in, but to do so by following the lead of those very same students and community members. 

L-R: TU Board member Hiram Rivera (Executive Director, Philadelphia Student Union/PSU); Karen Lewis (President, Chicago Teachers Union); Sharron Snyder (member, PSU)

Ultimately I am committed to helping TU serve as a model for all teachers unions around the country.