I heard about Bike & Build for the first time from a good friend (now girlfriend), Emily Mazurak, who completed her ride in 2012. She told me of how exhilarating it was, the awesome friends she made, and how good it felt to help. The idea took hold and festered in my brain while the application date drew closer, until I came to the decision to take the opportunity and run with it. I’m excited to not only complete one personal goal of riding a bicycle across the US, but also to develop the roots of another, which is to make a substantial difference in the lives of others and to give them the opportunities that we all deserve.
I stand for the goals of affordable housing and the belief that everyone, regardless of their income, race, or sexual identity, is entitled to a comfortable and safe place in which to settle down and to raise a family. I’ve seen friends, family, and strangers struggle with the effects of overpriced and substandard housing all across the US. Living near Baltimore and DC, I’ve seen the good and the bad of the housing market and affordable housing availability, and I look forward to helping raise awareness of the lack of affordable housing and the problems that we face with homelessness and substandard housing. In some of my past volunteer work, I have learned valuable skills in construction, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work, and I look forward to putting those to good use this summer!
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