I have a formal education in dietetics, which is a field that requires me to interact with people different from myself every day. As a healthcare provider, I think it is essential to understand the importance of forming meaningful relationships and listening to other people, especially patients and their families. Coming from a place that honours mutual understanding leads to better health outcomes and improved quality of care, which is why I am passionate about ensuring access to culturally safe and appropriate healthcare for all.

Access to justice plays an essential role in building and advancing societies, enabling people to use the law and legal services to better protect their rights. I am passionate about reducing barriers to justice because of the severe costs and suffering caused by unresolved legal needs on individuals, families, and communities. As necessary as our health care and education systems are, so is a justice system that is able to serve the needs of all Canadians.

Countless friends, family members, and colleagues have helped me take action and make a difference by creating a cascade of positive actions that exponentially broadened the reach of our community initiatives. For example, about a year ago, I founded Pen Friends Collective. This pen pal program started with myself and a handful of friends but quickly expanded to involve dozens of young community members, senior pen-pals, and partnering facilities across Alberta.

Additionally, I would not have made a change without funding from the government and community. There have also been highly gracious members of community organizations like Multicultural Health Brokers Cooperative, Edmonton Immigrant Services Association, ASSIST Community Services Centre, and more, who have shared their knowledge, expertise, and resources with me over the past years, and for this, I am grateful.

To me, collaboration means listening, making space for others to share their knowledge, and reflecting on values, journeys, and aspirations. Partnership means cultivating and leveraging diversity to lead transformative change.