In 2012, I moved to Charleston, South Carolina at a time when gentrification was on the rise.  I watched as citizens in urban neighborhoods were displaced from their homes by businesses, middle class individuals and upper class individuals.  They were forced to obtain residences that were less desirable or in the alternative, remain in their homes and pay higher rents in a community they no longer felt a part of. 

I watched as lower class citizens fought to have a voice to save their communities, but lacked the access to politicians and lawmakers whose agenda placed financial gain and biases before the needs of the lower class. The citizens in urban neighborhoods lacked the funds and the know-how to save their communities, thereby being forced to live elsewhere in what I saw, were deplorable conditions.

When my mother ran for office in 2012 with a passion to make a difference in her community she requested my assistance in her campaign and I declined. As a result, my lack of contribution played a role in her losing the election.  It was at the time of her losing the election and the impact of gentrification I witnessed throughout the lower class/urban communities, that I decided to be a part of the solution and not the problem.  I owed my mother and the urban communities of Charleston, to stand up and use my voice to give those without a voice access to change.