"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." - Margaret Mead
My travel in the US and around the world fostered a curiosity about how current affairs and public policy impact the lives of everyday people. I explore my interest in two separate but important ways. First, I create and support forums that encourage individuals to thoughtfully analyze and publicly articulate their thoughts in meaningful dialogue. Second, I build and contribute to organizations that connect individuals to the resources and support that public policy provides and guarantees.
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UC Berkeley's Collegiate Model United Nations Conference
At UC Berkeley, I was unanimously elected Secretary-General (president) of our Model UN conference and fulfilled one of my proudest achievements. By partnering with an economics professor and implementing a differential pricing strategy for our conference fee structure, I ended our conference's decades-long dependence on college subsidies and restored the conference to sustainable financial solvency. The conference was recognized by BestDelegate.com as the "Best on the West Coast." Expanding Participation in Civic Discourse After the recession, many lower-income West Coast students were unable to participate in prestigious conferences for cost reasons alone. Unsettled by MUN's accessibility narrowing to the affluent, I spearheaded creation of BayMUN, UC Berkeley's ultra-low-cost biannual conference for Northern California. Now in its seventh year, BayMUN provides students of all socioeconomic backgrounds opportunities to evaluate, adapt, and articulate their thoughts on current affairs and public policy. Beyond Theories: Making an Impact The goal of discourse is not dialogue for its own sake, but tangible improvements for everyday people. During and after college, I organized and worked through IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance clinics to connect working families with thousands of dollars in federal benefits via the Earned Income Tax Credit. At Deloitte, I connected clients to targeted subsidies to expand hiring of unemployed veterans. I organized seminars for Fortune 500 companies to comply thoughtfully with the Affordable Care Act. |