I’m running because government should make life better for people — and right now, everyday life is simply becoming harder for Philadelphians. Philadelphia deserves leadership focused on affordability, better city services, and opportunity for every neighborhood to thrive.

I know this because I’ve lived it.

I grew up in North Philadelphia in a low-income, working-class family. We lived in a small row home and for years I shared one room — and one bed — with two of my siblings. I know what it looks like when families are doing everything they can to make it work, stretching every dollar and constantly figuring out how to get by. That wasn’t unique to me — that is the reality for a lot of people in this city.

I went to Philadelphia public schools and attended George Washington High School all the way in the Far Northeast, despite growing up in North Philadelphia. Every single day I relied on SEPTA to get there, it took me nearly two and a half hours just to get to school. I’ve experienced firsthand what it means to depend on public systems and I’ve also experienced what happens when those systems fail people. I was mugged multiple times just trying to get an education. These issues have never been abstract to me — this has been my life.

Nothing about my path was handed to me.

I started at Community College of Philadelphia and worked two and sometimes three jobs at a time just to get through school. I know what it feels like to do everything right, work nonstop, and still feel like getting ahead is harder than it should be. I know what it means to have to work for every single opportunity you get.

I didn’t come from money. I didn’t come from political connections. I worked my way into government because I believed it could be a tool to make people’s lives better. I walked into rooms I was never expected to be in, figured it out, and as I moved forward, I made sure I was helping others move forward too.

That’s how I’ve always operated.

As a Palestinian American, I’ve grown up understanding what injustice looks like in a very real way. I know what brutality, discrimination, and dehumanization look like, and I have always believed in standing firmly against violence, oppression, discrimination, and genocide — everywhere. Those values have shaped who I am and how I lead.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked with thousands of young people, families, and communities across Philadelphia, and one thing has always been clear to me — people are working hard, but too often the systems around them are not working nearly hard enough for them. I’ve seen students fight for opportunities they deserve, families struggle with rising costs, neighborhoods asking for basic services, and communities feeling like they are constantly being asked to settle for less.

I’ve been in the rooms where decisions get made, and I’ve been in the neighborhoods where those decisions land. Too often, those two worlds do not meet.

And that has real consequences.

Too many families are struggling with affordability. Too many neighborhoods feel ignored when it comes to basic city services. Too many young people are growing up without the educational opportunities, support systems, and investments they deserve to truly succeed. And too many people feel disconnected from a government that is supposed to work for them.

I’m running because I want a Philadelphia where people do not have to struggle as hard as my family did just to build a stable life. A city where young people have access to strong public schools and real opportunities no matter their zip code. A city where government actually delivers, neighborhoods feel seen, and people trust that their leaders understand what everyday life actually looks like.

And I’m not new to this work.

Throughout my career, I have fought for communities across this city and I have delivered. I’ve helped create opportunities for young people, supported families, worked to make government more responsive, and led real work that has improved people’s lives. I know how government works, I know where it falls short, and I know what it takes to turn ideas into action.

This campaign is personal for me because I know what it feels like to rely on this city. I know what it feels like when systems work against you instead of for you. But I also know what is possible when leadership listens, acts with urgency, and actually delivers for people.

This city raised me. I’ve spent my life fighting for it already — and I’m ready to continue doing that on City Council.