Advocacy & Legislative Work!
Launched Councilwoman Marilyn Balcombe's woman and minority owned business education and training program and assisted in the training of over 30 Montgomery County businesses gaining critical access to information to be successful. At the time she was a candidate for council.
Worked Washington, DC City Council candidate Dr. Edwin Powell with his Ward 4 Primary race. Assisted him craft his youth entrepreneurship and empowerment education program and policy.
Worked with Open Table Food Pantry (Massachusetts), and helped fight for more state funding to provide healthy food, fresh meals, and job training to individuals and families food insecure living in Central Massachusetts.
Worked with the Orange County physician delegation to craft policy recommendations for the Affordable Care Act. Helped craft resolutions and facilitate debates.
Worked with a bi-partisan group of Orange County, California physicians, in conjunction with the State of California, to defeat additional increases in non-economic damages in a malpractice case. The law at the time had mandatory increases agreed upon by both the House of Medicine and the Trial Lawyers. The proposed additional increases would have negatively impacted the practice of medicine by substantially increasing insurance premiums, opened the door for increased frivolous law suits, ultimately leading to a reduction in physicians practicing medicine.
While on staff at Montgomery County Medical Society/MedChi I worked with a bi-partisan group of Maryland physicians, in conjunction with House of Delegates, to defeat additional increases in non-economic damages in a malpractice case. The proposed additional increases would have negatively impacted the practice of medicine by substantially increasing insurance premiums, opened the door for increased frivolous law suits, ultimately leading to a reduction in physicians practicing medicine.
As a staffer at the Orange County Medical Association (CA), I worked with the team to advocate for continued graduate school funding that would direct medical students to specialize in pediatric hospital care. The law was reauthorized!
Worked with Kamilah Martin-Proctor, Commissioner, DC Office of Disability Rights to expand her policy recommendations and framework to include the co-operative business model.
Spoke at the United Kingdoms Co-operatives East Midlands conference on food insecurity during COVID-19 shutdown.
I represented the United States.
Worked with Doug O'Brien, President of NCBA CLUSA and former Under Secretary at USDA to convene the first Mid-Atlantic Co-operative Policy Roundtable. The day brought together rural and urban producers, worker co-operative advocates, educators, elected members and stakeholders to inform a set of recommendations that would increase funding for co-operators in the region and around the country. The recommendations were sent to the Aspen Institute which later led to substantial increases in appropriated funding to support the co-operative business model.
Spoke at the United Kingdoms Retail Conference, hosted by Co-operatives UK, and spoke about predatory grocery stores in rural and urban communities. I also spoke about the importance of educating youth with trade skills along the farm to table supply chain.
During COVID-19, I personally worked with Amish business owners to help them apply for COVID relief funding and understand the fast evolving Small Business Administration regulations.
Worked with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to fight against racial discrimination in housing and greedy developers. Worked with Ms. Norton and stakeholders to craft policy recommendations to put power back into the peoples hands.
