Born in New Orleans, I know first hand the ways that climate change, unregulated corporations, and a failing government leave deep scars even in the most resilient communities. Growing up with the images of my city underwater and the Gulf Coast beneath oil left me with a seething curiosity about how those types of tragedies can occur and a lasting commitment playing a role in avoiding them in the future. After graduating from LSU with a B.A. in International Studies, I left Louisiana to pursue an M.A. in Geography from Syracuse University. There, I studied global food commodity chains, and the complex impacts that deepening consumer relationships can have on farmers and the environment. I then moved to Chicago where my professional life has centered on working towards a Chicago that works for us all.