I want to tell you a little bit about me – but JB & I agree that one of the most important parts of this campaign is hearing from you— so please stick around to introduce yourself.

I’m a lifelong Illinoisan so fixing the problems in this state is very personal to me. I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. My dad is a doctor and my mom was a schoolteacher. I’m a proud graduate of Kenwood Academy High School, the University of Illinois, and DePaul University College of Law.

I’m a mother of three wonderful women. My girls make me proud every single day. Tyler, 26, is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Critical Ethnic Studies. She loves to travel and has visited five of the seven continents. Cassidy, 23, is a Marketing Coordinator for a non-profit working to resettle refugees. She’s also quite the fashionista. Ryan, 20, is a junior studying public health and plans to join the Peace Corps in Africa. She also loves otters.

I’m passionate about reforming the criminal justice system and I’ve focused much of my career on this work. As the Director of the Center for Public Safety and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, I trained law enforcement on building trust in the communities they serve. Criminal justice reform is a lifelong passion of mine and I know JB shares that passion.

I’ve spent my life trying to fight for what’s right and I am looking forward to continuing this work with JB. As a state representative, I spend every day fighting for my constituents and as lieutenant governor you will be able to count on me to stand up for you.

I run marathons and triathlons – or at least I used to when I had more free time! It has been good practice for politics: the grueling workouts, the long hours swimming alone in cold water, the test of endurance and pure strength of will. There are times you want to give up, and those are the times when you need to dig in and work harder – just like in politics.

I love live music and going to concerts. My favorite artists right now include Beyonce and Mary J. Blige. But being from Chicago, I’m also a life long “house head” and love old school house music.

I am a professional mediator, which means that I know how to bring people together and get things done. I’ve run my own small business for over 20 years. I brought people together to create fair workplaces for everyone and to help our businesses be better neighbors. This isn’t just something I talk about, it’s my life’s work.

I think it’s important to support and lift up women and I was a proud delegate of the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership. When HB 40 came before me, I stood on the House floor and said we need to make this bill a law. My daughters and women across this state deserve the right to make their own healthcare decisions. Bruce Rauner still won’t sign that bill into law. I know the women of this state can count on JB to stand with us as governor.