About Me

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Throughout my career, I have learned that making a real difference for communities requires addressing a problem's root cause.  Oftentimes, there is no single solution, and no solution is the same. I like to compare humanitarian work to composing music (digging into my roots as a pianist and thespian). Communities may have similar tones yet march to their own rhythm. My professional experiences can best be described as helping to symphonize a community's song. Therefore, while my personal journey is not composed as a singular melody, it is a harmony of different paths coming together. 

My resounding passion for dedicating myself to community-centered social causes became my conviction after I learned how one person’s choices can affect many lives. From overcoming the loss of a parent from substance abuse at a young age, family conflict, and homelessness, I have acquired insights and empathy to be able to help other vulnerable people striving for a fresh start. My firm belief is that resilience gives us the strength to keep moving forward and that is how, together, we can make the changes we want to see in this world. Therefore, I do what I do because my past is my truth, and while I cannot change history, I can compose new songs to sing about a better future. 

Photo: Rachel's first global health trip abroad and first air travel experience (May 2015)