After working in multiple social service nonprofits, I then decided to try my hand at living overseas for a year in Thailand. I then returned to New York City to obtain my Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College, Silberman School of Social Work. Since that time, I have worked in multiple positions providing individual and family-based counseling in New York and Massachusetts. I have developed a passion for providing trauma-informed support to clients and through training other professionals.

I have had the benefit of many professional and personal role models. However, who I look up to the most is my father. He has been willing to be innovative, challenge himself, and grow professionally and personally throughout his life while at the same time never seeking personal praise. I am excited to be part of the mission of Fathers Uplift, as I have been a benefit of a great father. I hope I can bring some of his wisdom to others. I am most personally proud that I have come to a point in my professional life where I can truly say I love what I do, and I am good at it. Believing in yourself and acknowledging the skills you have is never easy. Getting to the point of saying I have something to give to others is harder. I can say I now truly believe these things.

If I could invite one person to dinner, it would probably be a happy grandmother and her extended family from a country I have not yet been to. Since this is my ideal dinner, I would ask her to make me something that she would normally make for her family and sit down with them to eat and hear about their normal day. I love learning about new people and places and tend to believe that everyday people doing everyday things can teach you a lot about things you don’t know. When not working, I tend to spend time with my kiddos swimming, hanging out in our yard, and doing ongoing chores and fixes to our house. Though ideally, I would go to a warm secluded beach somewhere and nap in a hammock while drinking coconut juice!