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Before immigrating to the United States, my parents grew up in Pakistan and throughout my childhood, we’d visit my extended family there. We couldn’t drink water out of the tap for certain fear that we’d get sick. Power outages were the norm, lasting hours at a time. The air outside was often more polluted than was safe, jeopardizing our health with every breath. It was environmental injustice made real.

As I got older, I realized a few things:

1. You don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to see environmental harm done to those without money and political power. We feel these challenges here at home, from air pollution in East Boston to flooding in Dorchester.
2. Too many of these challenges are the result of government policy. Though my parents didn’t always encourage participation in politics, I came to see it differently. If we want to see our conditions improve, we need to have a seat at the table.

This led me to study economics at Boston University. I learned from some of the brightest minds how to use smart policy to uplift others. But my experiences outside of the classroom were equally impactful. Organizing on campaigns for US President, US Senate, US House, and Boston Mayor, as well as serving in a US Senate office, I learned from people of all backgrounds across the Commonwealth. People worried about their bills, worried about their healthcare, worried about their futures. Community organizing and politics, I recognized, are a chance for all of us to turn our collective fears into collective action. Today, this fight is more urgent than ever. Not only do we face the existential climate crisis, but also compounding crises that make Boston unaffordable and inaccessible for too many. Climate action is an opportunity for us to simultaneously address all of these issues.

Personal Side

Rock climbing // Finding the next best Boston restaurant // the Star Wars movies //