I’ve lived in Georgia for most of my life and have called Marietta home for several years. I first moved here to complete my degree in Information Technology at Kennesaw State University in 2019, all the dorms were full and student housing was too expensive.
I had no car for the first few months, so I relied on carpools and the bus to get around. I was working 30 hour weeks, sharing an off-campus apartment with roommates, and covering tuition with the HOPE scholarship.
It wasn’t easy, but through that experience I also found a deeper connection to this city.
We have one of the best downtown city centers in Metro Atlanta, vibrant and distinctive local businesses, and beautiful parks and neighborhoods.
By the time I graduated in 2022, I got a job as an IT systems engineer and already decided I was going to stay in Marietta.
Outside of work, I’m deeply involved in our community. I regularly attend City Council and Cobb County Commissioner meetings, listening to people, speaking up, and pushing for real change.
I first got involved in advocacy shortly after buying my first bike as an adult. I challenged myself to bike everywhere I could, and immediately realized it wasn’t safe. Major roads connecting neighborhoods had little to no bike infrastructure, narrow sidewalks, if any at all, and high car speeds that make it dangerous to walk and bike, especially for kids.
We’ve paid for so many studies in the past that showed that our roads are unsafe. Our city is peppered with missing crosswalks, broken sidewalks, and unsafe intersections. This became even more real for me when my brother, a KSU student, was hit by a car on Powder Springs Street.
I felt called to fight for change, so I joined the non profit A Better Cobb to fight for bike and pedestrian safety, as well as housing affordability and improving public transit.
Even with the lack of infrastructure, I still love biking and rely on my e-bike to get around, so I’m always thinking about how we can make Marietta safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for everyone using all forms of transportation.
A big part of what I believe in is community power, so I started a free family-friendly bike ride that I host every Saturday, in front of Marietta Square Market Food Hall at 10 a.m. It’s a great way to get active, advocate for safer streets, explore our city’s unique neighborhoods, and make some new friends! Whether you’re a Marietta resident or visiting, all are welcome!
Over time, my love for this city inspired me to become part of its story and its success. I began exploring more of our city – its history, its character, and our leadership’s vision for the future.
The more I engaged, the more I understood that we are being held back.
We’ve failed to deliver on reinvesting in multiple corridors in our city, like Roswell Street, even after decades of studies and plans.
We’re failing to make our city more walkable and bikeable, despite a clear desire from residents for more infrastructure investments.
We are facing a housing affordability crisis that isn’t being treated with the urgency it demands, while we continue to make it unnecessarily difficult to build new housing.
All of this comes against the backdrop of next year’s “tight budget,” with no clear vision for the future and a mayor seeking a fifth term to maintain the status quo.
The old way is not sustainable. It’s time for a new Marietta – one with fresh ideas, led by someone who is ready to invest in our city and deliver on the promises we’ve failed to fulfill for decades.