Community Building & Activism

Selected Roles

Citizen State - Founder

Citizen State is reimagining society, building a borderless constellation of communities where every individual has the foundation to meet their basic needs and the freedom to flourish, create, and contribute to a better world. Born from the conviction that governments and markets have failed the people they were built to serve, Citizen State asks a more fundamental question: what if we built something better?

The model is unique. Citizens, whether they be artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators, or community organisers, gain access to housing and community resources in exchange for a small stake in what they are building. These contributions are pooled in the Citizen State Fund, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem where everyone benefits from each other’s development. Citizen Action Committees enable genuine self-governance. The vision is for a global network of communities; the immediate work is building the first.

Currently in active development, Citizen State is recruiting co-founders, partners, and citizens who are ready to build something novel, not just a housing scheme or a social initiative, but a working model of a different kind of civilization. If that sounds like the kind of thing you’ve been waiting for, we would welcome a conversation.

Housing Justice Advocacy (2018-Present)

On a freelance basis, I provide ad hoc advocacy and support to individuals navigating housing-related bureaucratic systems, particularly those who are vulnerable, overwhelmed, or at risk of being disadvantaged by complex procedures. This is not legal advice and I am not an attorney. It is something more direct: accompanying individuals to meetings, helping ensure benefits are claimed, supporting deposit disputes, and acting as a calm, professional presence in intimidating interactions where having an advocate can make a material difference.

The goal is always empowerment. This means not only resolving the immediate problem presented, but helping people understand their rights and find the confidence to fight for them. This work sits at the intersection of my research into housing justice and a simple belief that everyone deserves someone in their corner when the system feels designed to defeat them.

Administrative Assistant — Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic, Chicago (2012)

The Cook County Juvenile Court Clinic is a non-judicial body of the Cook County Court, providing the Court with timely, precise, and sensitive clinical information to ensure the best outcomes in juvenile proceedings. It is a collaboration between Northwestern University and the Office of the Chief Judge.

As the Administrative Assistant, I supported the Director across a range of functions including IT provision, database organization, legal investigation, and internal communications. Working within the juvenile justice system provided formative insight into the convergence of law, vulnerability, and institutional procedure, which are themes that continue to inform my advocacy work today.