My motivation stems from a traumatic experience in 2016, when I was trapped in a controlling and abusive relationship. Everything I owned was destroyed, and I lived in constant fear for my safety.

With limited options, I made the difficult decision to live out of my car rather than give up my dog. During that time, I relied heavily on public libraries to access basic resources and a device from a close friend, which allowed for more constant access to critical resources. Even after leaving, my abuser continued to track my efforts to find shelter, reinforcing just how essential secure and private access to technology can be.

Fast forward to 2024: I began sharing my story with classmates, and public speaking, and to my surprise, so many people could relate to my situation. Many were eager to support a project that started as a personal passion - driven by a love for tech and a deep commitment to equity. RepairTogether was created, and we formed a community of people lifting each other up in ways I had never experienced before. We became close friends, united by shared values and a common purpose.

We pulled it off - and things got serious fast. The backlog of requests made one thing clear: the need is real.