Lisa, a native of Virginia, grew up in Roanoke with her parents and older brother. Her dad owned a small construction business, and her mom and stepfather were secondary and post-secondary school educators. She spent a lot of time with her brother, running through the neighborhood, climbing trees, and playing on sandlot sports teams. Lisa lived next door to her grandma and great-grandma and loved growing up under the watchful eye of three generations. She is the third generation of her family from Roanoke to make DC her home.
After graduating from the University of Virginia, Lisa embarked on a career dedicated to public service. She held bilingual positions in both the private and public sectors, volunteered for non-profit agencies, and became a Certified Addiction Counselor. Through her work, she witnessed how families struggled and felt lost trying to navigate government services and systems that aren’t designed for everyone, including immigrant families fighting for services in their native language. Her work with kids and families experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, teen pregnancy, and addiction framed her belief that government plays a crucial role in the well-being of the people it serves, whether it’s providing housing, education, or safe spaces.
As a mom, Lisa knows first-hand the challenges DC families face trying to raise kids in a safe, healthy environment. Her son was born at only 24 weeks and spent six months in the NICU. Once Brandon came home from the hospital, Lisa spent years navigating services that were supposed to provide early support. This was an overwhelming and exhausting experience.
As a mom, Lisa knows first-hand the challenges DC families face trying to raise kids in a safe, healthy community.
Lisa eventually embarked on a 27-year career in law enforcement, serving as a Bilingual Juvenile Probation Officer, a federal special agent investigating smuggling schemes in Puerto Rico, and a Special Agent with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In these roles, she tackled financial fraud, corruption, and other criminal activities, earning a reputation for tenacity and dedication.
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As an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, the elected officials closest to resident concerns, Lisa worked to transform the way we think about the community and who that includes. She worked to expand the voices of diverse groups and stood with community members, advocates, and activists to fight for safe streets, expanded bus routes, improved bicycle infrastructure, racial and social equity, and greater oversight of policy technology, transparency in traffic stop data, and creating affordable housing.
Lisa recognizes just how much our government matters and believes we can develop good programs that solve problems, remove barriers, empower people, and serve those who need them most.
Lisa is also a third-generation college graduate, graduating from the University of Virginia, and she is pursuing her Master's in Management from the University of Illinois, Gies College of Business. Lisa is a Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. member and lives with her husband, Vertice, their son, Brandon, and fur-baby Shadow in Hawthorne. They attend Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.