GAMVP Insights

I always had a sense that change didn’t just happen; it was something people created and demanded. Whether it was my high school AP Government teacher urging us to vote in our first election because of the youth low voter turnout epidemic or my local masjid organizing food drives to serve families in need, I learned early on that communities thrive when people come together to solve problems. But my journey into community organizing didn’t begin with an overwhelming vision of changing the world. It began with frustration.

Growing up in Clarkston, I looked around and saw people being left out of conversations that directly affected their lives. Conversations about housing, education, public transportation, and a lack of representation that didn’t reflect the people of Clarkston, who were often overlooked or excluded from decision making processes. It wasn’t just apathy holding people back; it was barriers like language access, mistrust of systems that had failed them before, and a lack of resources to navigate civic engagement.

I came to understand that decisions about our communities will be made with or without us, and it’s up to us to ensure our voices shape those decisions. I’ve seen what happens when people are excluded: policies are created that don’t reflect our realities or meet our needs. But I’ve also witnessed the power of people coming together to create the change they need for themselves and their communities. When we show up, we hold the power to change the narrative, challenge the status quo, and demand the resources and opportunities we deserve. Our collective action is what drives progress, and it’s through our participation that we reshape our future, ensuring that our communities are not only heard but also valued.

As the Community Engagement Organizer at GAMVP, I work to connect people, build trust, and open up new opportunities for engagement. My goal is to understand and address the obstacles that prevent communities from fully participating in their civic duty, whether that’s through organizing Community Conversations, providing resources, or supporting the next generation of leaders. Ultimately, I want to create spaces that are more connected, informed, and empowered than they were before. I organize because I believe we have the power to create a more equitable and inclusive future. My hope is to inspire others to realize their own agency and to create systems that reflect the values of justice, equity, and democracy where everyone has a chance to shape their future. It’s not always easy, and the victories don’t come quickly, but I’ve learned that the process of organizing by building relationships, fostering trust, and sparking collective action is just as important as the outcomes.

This work is a way for me to honor the communities that have shaped me. It’s through their strength, resilience, and wisdom that I became who I am today. By organizing, I give back to the people and places that taught me the value of connection and collective action, ensuring that their voices and experiences are always at the forefront of change.