I am volunteering with The Borgen Project because poverty is not just a distant issue—it is deeply personal to me. I was born in Ethiopia and witnessed how poverty affects families, including my own, before being adopted and given opportunities I might not have had otherwise. As a camp counselor in inner-city Cleveland, I saw the same struggles affecting children in my own community. My goal is to use my voice and skills to give back and help others who are facing the challenges I once did. I believe that real change starts with advocacy, and I want to be part of that change.