More Than a Campaign — A Life’s Mission

I’ve never needed a title to lead. Long before anyone saw my name on a ballot, I was already in the trenches, doing the work. If you’ve ever wondered why I fight so hard for this city — why my roots run so deep in Rochester’s soil — this is my story.

It began when I was just 14.

While most teenagers were focused on high school dances and sports, I was confronting gun violence head-on. That early commitment led me to co-design the Save Our Youth program — a community-led effort that reimagined safety. We didn't just talk about change. We made it happen. Together, we achieved something few thought possible: 367 consecutive days without a homicide in one of Rochester’s most impacted neighborhoods.

That experience taught me two things: the power of grassroots leadership, and that systems don't shift on their own — people shift them.

Fast forward to 2020. The pandemic hit our communities like a tidal wave, exposing every crack in our system. Families went hungry, children lacked access to basic hygiene supplies, and fear lingered in the air. I founded the 14621 Food Stands — five free neighborhood hubs that distributed food and hygiene products to our most vulnerable. What began as a response to crisis became a lifeline for families — and remains one today.

In 2023, I took a leap and ran my first campaign for Rochester City Council. No big donors. No political machine. Just people — neighbors, friends, community leaders — powering a movement. We earned 44% of the vote against a long-standing incumbent. That race wasn’t about a seat. It was about shifting the conversation. And we did.

Today, I serve as a Program Officer, where I co-designed and now lead a Racial Health Equity Strategy that puts resources directly into the hands of Black- and Brown-led grassroots organizations — often for the first time. We’re not just funding programs — we’re funding possibility, we’re investing in hope, and we’re driving systemic change that will ripple for generations.

My work stretches beyond Rochester. As a member of a National Collaborative on Gun Violence, I help shape national strategies to end community violence. And in 2025, I was recognized by Grantmakers In Health as a national thought leader. My article, “The Illusion of Inclusive Workspaces and the Psychological Safety of BIPOC Colleagues,” became their most-read piece for two consecutive years — proof that our voices, when amplified, shift culture.

This June, I’ll stand before leaders at the GIH annual conference to present “Ways to Counter Philanthropic Redlining,” a bold session tackling the barriers that keep money and resources from reaching the communities that need them most.

So why am I running — again — for City Council?

Because I don’t just talk about equity — I build it.

Because I don’t just serve the community — I am the community.

Because Rochester deserves leadership that leads with heart, fights with purpose, and never stops showing up.

This isn’t just a campaign. It’s a continuation of a lifelong mission.

If you believe in people-powered change, I invite you to share my story. Join the movement. Donate if you can. Every voice, every dollar, every effort helps us build the Rochester we all deserve.

#KeeKee4Council | #PeoplePowered | #RochesterRising | #CommunityOverEverything