My story starts like so many American stories – with a dream. My dad came to the United States in search of a better life for me and my siblings. He worked double shifts—sometimes sixteen hours a day—to build a life for his children.
My dad’s relentless drive ensured that my siblings and I could focus on our studies without constantly worrying about money. I was determined to honor his sacrifice and devoted myself to my schooling.
I enrolled at City Colleges and then DePaul University while working full-time. While at DePaul, I secured a position as a developer at the Chicago Stock Exchange. Despite the demanding schedule, I kept my promise to my dad and completed my education with an MBA at the University of Chicago.
I found success in my technology career before launching my first tech company in 2007 and a second in 2013. Today, that business employs over twenty people right here in Illinois and serves clients ranging from startups to national security agencies. One of the innovations I’m most proud of is an early data-analytics system I helped create for UPS and U.S. Customs that flagged suspicious packages—before 9/11 changed everything.
But my work never distracted me from the values my parents instilled in me. In March 2020, as COVID-19 upended lives, I helped launch a nonprofit called Chi-Care to deliver hot meals and survival supplies directly to our unhoused neighbors. What started as one truck in Belmont now runs a daily fleet stretching from Chicago’s North Side to its southern suburbs. I’ll never forget the young woman who told me she feared staying in shelters after repeated assaults. That moment made it clear to me that feeding people today has to be paired with creating a safer tomorrow. Chi-Care is now raising funds to open a transitional shelter rooted in dignity, safety, and trust.
Beyond Chi-Care, supported organizations like ICNA Relief, helping to establish transitional housing for women and families fleeing domestic violence—empowering them with life skills and resources to rebuild. I’ve also volunteered after natural disasters and worked for decades to organize my community around issues like health care access, climate change, and immigration reform.
My dad came here in search of a better life and this community welcomed him. We are the product of the American Dream, but I know that dream is out of reach for far too many of our neighbors.
That’s why I’m running for Congress. Guided by my progressive values and a lifetime of service, I’m ready to fight to fix our broken systems and help all of our families achieve the American Dream.
