In her own words:
I grew up right in this community. To say that I now live independently in the same place that raised me truly feels surreal – for so long, that felt out of reach. Like so many families in the Bay Area, my family has experienced the realities of displacement and the rising cost of living. I’ve watched relatives, neighbors, and people I love move farther away from the communities they helped build because they could no longer afford to stay.
Affordable housing is not just about buildings. It’s about stability. It’s about dignity. It’s about giving people the opportunity to remain rooted in the places that shaped them. It allows families, students, and young professionals to dream about a future here instead of wondering when they’ll be priced out.
I am the daughter of Tongan immigrants and my parents worked countless hours and sacrificed so much so that I could have opportunities they never had. They believed in creating a better life for their children even when it meant long days, hard work, and uncertainty
To me, this is what the American Dream looks like. It looks like being one of the first in my extended family, and one of the first among many of my friends, to be able to afford to live independently while I grow my career. It looks like having a safe place to come home to in the city I love. It looks like being able to remain connected to my culture, my memories, and my community instead of being forced away from them.
This community has shaped my identity in so many ways, and I’m grateful that developments like Colibri Commons make it possible for more people like me to stay and continue contributing to the future of this city.