I was raised in Chicopee by a single mother, who worked hard to provide for our family. I am a proud product of the Chicopee public schools, attending Stefanik Elementary, Bellamy Middle, and graduated from Chicopee High School in 2007 with honors. In high school, I served as class President, President of the Art Club, Deputy Commander in JROTC, attended Girls State, and volunteered at the Holyoke Soldiers Home.
When women succeed, Chicopee succeeds. We need to address the crisis of violence against women, protect reproductive and maternal care, and expand vocational training and technical education to create good-paying jobs for mothers, women and girls.