Formally trained as an urban sociologist and race scholar, I use quantitative (numbers) and qualitative (narrative) tools to identify and dismantle the specific policies, processes, and practices that uphold White supremacy.

My work has been published in over a dozen academic journals and featured in hundreds of news articles, legislative hearings, and conferences. Yet, much more than any of these academic accolades, I am who I am because of my life experiences and relationships that have shaped, challenged, and changed me along the way.

Growing up in a lower working class racially diverse neighborhood, I saw the possibilities and perils of U.S. urban life. I struggled with my own learning disabilities in public schools that were constrained by limited resources, suffered the negative physical consequences of concentrated industrial pollution, and learned to appreciate the incredible power of persistent resistance.

As an adult, I have had the privilege of traveling across the world and observing how policies can and do make a difference. I have grown in my understanding of the interconnectedness of all resistance struggles and how much I still have to learn.

My aim is to use my empirical research and public advocacy to help illuminate what we can all do to transform our world into a more just and loving community.

eruka

Putting My empirical research into action.

Rigorous studies are essential for understanding social problems and innovating solutions. Yet, studies alone are not enough. I founded a nonprofit, eruka, to implement solutions that will cultivate equity across people and places by reimagining housing and financial services. To learn more, visit eruka’s website and join in the movement for a just economy.