Corinna’s Story

I grew up poor in a run-down trailer park on the Gulf Coast, surrounded by retirees who guarded their lawns against feral kids like me. As the oldest of four children with a single mom who waitressed most nights, I knew inequity on a cellular level. The challenges I faced growing up—poverty, parental addiction, and my father’s incarceration—shaped me into a tenacious and creative problem-solver. I bring that grit and resourcefulness to everything I do today.

Breaking the cycle of hardship, I became the first in my family to attend college. At Mount Holyoke College, I experienced a world far removed from the life I knew. As I sat in ivy-covered classrooms and dined with peers whose families held corporate power and immense wealth, my family back home was experiencing homelessness and struggling with untreated mental illness. I had to learn to code-switch between these vastly different worlds. Though it often left me feeling disoriented, it was also when I began to develop my ability to connect meaningfully with people across different life experiences—a skill that has been central to my work ever since.

Once a source of shame, my roots became a source of connection. As I began to share my story, I found that others opened up about their own struggles, sharing experiences of suffering and survival. These moments of mutual vulnerability would turn into conversations about solutions. I learned long ago that sharing our stories is a powerful tool for change: when we forge meaningful connections, we have the chance to build strength and power for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

This personal journey, combined with my understanding of historical and contemporary systemic oppression—like racism and settler colonialism—has driven me to dedicate my life to social justice. My purpose is simple but profound: to leave the world a little better—safer, healthier, freer, and kinder—than I found it.

What’s your story? Contact me to explore how we can work together towards purpose-driven change.