Early voting from October 26 – November 3
Dearborn: Ford Community and Performing Arts Center
Dearborn Heights: Canfield Community Center
My family moved to America when I was 3 years old. We ended up outside of Philadelphia. When I was in middle school, my teachers went on strike. I didn’t totally understand what was going on at the time, but I knew that it was deeply important to my dad. My refugee father supported those teachers, advocating for them at board meetings, and the teachers eventually got what they deserved. We all finally went back to school.
After much urging from our small community, a year later, my dad ran for the school board, and he won. And to this day, well into his seventies, he still talks about that time as some of the most rewarding of his life.
My parents taught me to be an advocate, and that’s what I’ve been doing in Michigan communities since I moved here when I was eighteen to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I received my bachelors, masters and law degrees all from UM. Then, I moved to Dearborn in 2007, and I’ve been here ever since.
While I work as a comedian and adjunct professor of law, advocacy and activism have always been at the center of what I do in our community. Whether it’s for civil rights, political activism, or in our schools, I’ve spoken up for what’s right. And of course, that means I’ve been attacked at times, but I’ve always kept my focus on one thing: making Dearborn a better place for all of us.
And now, I’ve made the decision to follow in my father’s footsteps. So now, I’m proudly a candidate for the Dearborn School Board in this year’s November election.
Why am I running?
(Go to my Issues page for more of this in depth)
First, I want to strengthen our students. Are our students getting the best education possible? Are our outcomes on par with other local communities? Are we preparing our kids to excel in college, the workforce, or wherever they head after graduation? I think we can do better. That means being a voice that is always laser focused on always asking and answering one question: How is this helping our students?
Second, I want to fully support our teachers. Our teachers are the engine of our schools. Many times, they are our children’s top role models outside of the home. A school district might be able to run without administrators. But if our teachers don’t show up, everything comes to a halt. I hear too often that our teachers are sometimes not getting the support they need. I will do everything I can to uphold and support our dedicated teachers. At the same time, I’ll hold accountable any teacher that might be lagging or underperforming. We do not have the luxury to either neglect our teachers’ concerns or to keep anyone who isn’t giving us their all.
But I can’t do this alone. I’m asking for your support. Please make a donation now!
School board elections aren’t on the ballot in August, so look for my name on November 5!
Let’s do this together!