- What experience will you bring that has prepared you to be a strong Illinois state house representative?
I am an educator, organizer, and nonprofit leader who has spent over a decade working alongside immigrant and working-class communities. As executive director of Latino Union, I organize with workers to address wage theft, housing instability, and access to public resources, which has prepared me to legislate with equity, accountability, and urgency.
- Do you have a connection to the Asian American community in the 40th District? If so, can you share about that connection?
Yes, I have longstanding relationships with Asian American families, students, workers, and small businesses in the district through my work in schools, community spaces, and immigrant rights coalitions. I am committed to continued partnership with Asian American organizations to ensure their needs are reflected in policy and decision-making.
- What will be your number one priority if (re)elected?
My top priority will be strengthening economic security for working families by lowering the cost of living while raising wages and protecting access to housing, healthcare, and education. Families cannot thrive without stability, and policy must reflect that reality.
- Life is becoming more and more unaffordable- rising grocery prices, utility bills, housing costs and more. What would you do to support people in your district who are struggling to make ends meet?
I will fight for policies that expand affordable housing, strengthen utility protections, raise wages, and prevent price-gouging by corporations. I also support investing in public transit, healthcare, and food access to reduce household costs and provide real relief.
- How would you ensure the state of Illinois can fund healthcare access for all, regardless of immigration status?
Illinois must pair expanded healthcare access with progress revenue solutions that ask corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share. I support strengthening medicaid, funding community clinics, and protecting programs that allow undocumented residents to access care without fear.
- What do you see as the major needs of the immigrant community in the 40th district? How will you address these needs? Key needs include language access, housing stability, worker protections, legal services, and freedom from immigration enforcement.
I will support expanded immigrant services funding, stronger labor enforcement, data privacy protections, and policies that allow families to access services safely.
- Inclusion of Asian American history is now mandated in Illinois Public Schools, but implementation has been haphazard at best. What will you do to ensure Asian American and all people’s histories are well integrated and standardized into our public schools curriculum?
I was a huge supporter of the TEACH Act when it was first announced and when it was ultimately signed by the governor. I have heard the implementation has been difficult and in thinking about these circumstances, I would support fully funding teacher training, curriculum review and development to keep our efforts living, and training that continues further efforts on culturally responsive and relevant training. I will also work closely with educators in the 40th district and community groups to ensure that we are actively sharing curriculums, sharing our efforts, and engaging the community to ensure histories are taught accurately, inclusively, and meaningfully.
- If ICE agents were to come to District 40 in force, how would you respond? Do you support abolishing ICE?
I would do what I have done as an organizer and commit first and foremost to protecting our community and our neighbors. I would make sure our organizing is preventative as it has been responsive to the unlawful taking of our neighbors by this agency that needs to absolutely be abolished. The 40th district will remain a sanctuary for all under our organization.
- What legislation would you propose to address public safety issues in the district?
Public safety requires investing in housing stability, mental health services, youth programs, violence prevention, and safe streets. I support legislation that prioritizes prevention and community-based solutions rather than over-policing or incarceration.