April on the Issues

Housing & Human Services

Housing is a human right. When people have safe, stable and affordable housing they are able to live and thrive in their community. Housing has become increasingly unaffordable, unaccessible and this creates a crisis for every community. We need to work collaboratively at the local, state and federal level to ensure that our communities can afford the housing that is available and create more housing opportunities where they are limited.

We also know that when people are challenged with substance use disorders, mental health challenges or event just the constant fight to weather one economic hardship it becomes increasingly difficult to do all of the things that make it possible to live in their community. We need to ensure that we are investing in the social and human services that create true community wellness and take honest looks at the programs in place to understand what is and what is not working and be willing to take bold action to make improvements

Gender & Reproductive Health

I never in my life believed that the precedent set by Roe v. Wade would be dissolved and yet here in 2026 we are watching the devastating consequences of an ultra-conservative SCOTUS decision to reverse Roe v. Wade create harm in states where abortion is now being attacked. We are fortunate that Maine has created protections, but we also need continued legislative champions to ensure that we will hold the line that abortion is healthcare and healthcare is a human right.

We are also witnessing continued attacks on our trans relatives for just trying to live their lives as their authentic self. Gender affirming healthcare is something that cis-men and women have always had access to. When individuals try to shape the narrative that somehow trans and gender expansive individuals are trying to gain some competitive advantage through their journey to be themselves is just harmful and misguided. We will continue to see attacks on our LGBTQ+ community members as this administration tries to push their agenda rooted in Christian nationalism instead of equal rights and access.

Climate & Environment

We are living through a climate emergency, and we must act. As an Indigenous person, I believe that we are all the caretakers of the planet, and we have a responsibility to protect it for the next generation.

We have witnessed sea level rise, droughts and rising temperatures that we are not prepared to weather for long here in Maine. Our natural resources are the most important and most valuable asset we have and it is our ancestral responsibility to care for and protect them. We cannot afford to sacrifice our environment for AI data centers. We cannot afford to neglect our water sources and wildlife that depend on them. We have to continue to innovate and invest in renewable energy that is affordable and accessible for all Mainers.

Racial Equity & Social Justice

As an Indigenous person I have had to navigate through my share of challenges, things that were unfair or unjust, and fight for equity.  Though I am not a member of one of the Wabanaki Nations I am a grateful guest and relative who will work during my term to be a good partner, a strong voice and an advocate to restore the sovereign rights for Maine’s Tribal Nations.

We have also been living through a time where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have literal thugs on our streets who are untrained, unqualified and have killed one of our community members through their careless and lawless actions. We must continue to demand accountability for these actions. We must continue to build strong community connections to watch out for and support each other.

The current environment that we are navigating requires strong and resilient community leaders who understand how to look at policy and consider all communities who may be impacted, especially those often left behind. I believe that my lived experience, my service as a councilor in the state’s most diverse city and my work with Native communities around the country has prepared me for this role.