Some of my favorite childhood memories begin at Pierce Memorial Field.
 

Every summer, my parents would drop me off at Heritage Days with just enough money in my pocket to spend the evening with my friends. We'd race from ride to ride, making sure we got on our favorite—the Zipper—as many times as we could before the night was over. We'd stretch every dollar, splitting fair food, trying to save enough for whatever little souvenir happened to catch our eye before heading home.
 

At the time, it didn't feel extraordinary. It was simply what growing up in East Providence looked like.
 

Today, every time I drive by Pierce Field, those memories come rushing back. I think about the excitement of those summer nights, the friendships that were built there, and the incredible sense of community that made East Providence feel like home. Heritage Days may be gone, but what it represented—a city where neighbors came together, families made memories, and children could simply enjoy being kids—is something worth preserving.
 

Long before those summer nights at Pierce Field, however, my story began with two young people from São Miguel in the Azores.
 

My parents, José and Maria Pereira, left behind everything they had ever known in Portugal with a simple dream: to build a better life for the family they hoped to one day have. Like so many immigrant families, they arrived in America with little more than determination, an incredible work ethic, and faith that hard work would create opportunities unavailable back home.
 

They first met while living in São Miguel. After my mother immigrated to the United States, they continued their relationship across an ocean before my father eventually joined her in East Providence so they could begin building their life together.
 

Neither of them spoke much English when they arrived.
 

My mother taught herself by watching television and through conversations with the woman whose home she cleaned. Over time, that employer became much more than someone she worked for—they became family, celebrating holidays together and sharing life's milestones. It's a reminder that kindness and community can bridge any language barrier.
 

My parents' first apartment was on First Street in East Providence. It wasn't glamorous, but it was theirs. It was where they began building the life they had dreamed of.
 

Eventually they moved to Waterman Avenue—the same home where I was raised and where my parents still live today.
 

Growing up in that home shaped who I am.
 

Our house was never just our house. It was where family gathered, where stories were shared around the dinner table, and where Sunday lunches weren't just a meal—they were a tradition. Like so many Portuguese families, there always seemed to be more food than anyone could possibly eat, card games that lasted well into the evening, and enough laughter to fill every room.
 

My parents worked incredibly hard to make that life possible.
 

Neither of them was afraid of overtime. If there was an opportunity to work another shift, they took it. If there was another hour available, they stayed. Their vacations often became tomorrow's problem because today's priority was making sure my brother and I had opportunities they never had growing up.
 

They didn't simply tell me the value of hard work.
 

They lived it.
 

Watching them sacrifice taught me a lesson that has stayed with me my entire life: if you want something, you earn it.
 

Those values shaped everything I have done since.
 

Growing up, I attended Orlo Avenue Elementary School, Martin Middle School, and East Providence High School. I was a driven student who constantly challenged myself, taking seven Advanced Placement courses during my senior year while participating in the National Honor Society, serving on the Class of 2015 Committee, and competing in football, indoor track, and volleyball.
 

Outside of school, my life revolved around family, faith, and community.
 

Every Sunday began with CCD and Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary. Every summer seemed to revolve around Portuguese feasts throughout Rhode Island. From the age of twelve, I danced with Grupo Folclórico 9 Ilhas, eventually becoming an instructor responsible for teaching younger dancers and helping preserve traditions that had been passed down for generations.
 

Being Portuguese has always been about far more than heritage to me.
 

It's about family.

It's about showing up for one another.

It's about taking care of your neighbors.

Those values have become part of who I am.
 

When it came time for college, Springfield College immediately felt like home.
 

There was something different about the campus. The students genuinely cared about one another. Leadership wasn't just encouraged—it was expected.
 

Springfield's philosophy of educating the Spirit, Mind, and Body fundamentally changed how I approached life. It taught me that success isn't measured by professional accomplishments alone. It's measured by how you serve others, how you carry yourself, and how you contribute to your community.
 

During my four years there, I earned dual degrees in Accounting and Finance, played rugby, served as President of the A Cappella Group, helped welcome new students as an Orientation Leader, and became a Leadership Training Conference Leader.
 

Those experiences taught me confidence, teamwork, and service.
 

After graduating, I began my accounting career through internships that eventually led to full-time positions in public accounting. Today, I serve as a Supervisor in the Audit Department at Citrin Cooperman and recently earned my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license after years of studying, additional coursework, and professional experience.
 

Becoming a CPA was one of the most difficult challenges I've ever undertaken.
 

It required years of discipline, countless nights studying after work, weekends spent preparing for exams, and an unwavering commitment to seeing the process through. It reinforced something my parents had taught me years before: meaningful accomplishments rarely come easily.
 

Professionally, I have been fortunate to work with nonprofit organizations, businesses, and governmental entities throughout my career. Helping organizations strengthen their financial reporting, improve accountability, and better serve the people who rely on them has given me a unique perspective on leadership and public service.
 

One lesson has become increasingly clear to me.
 

Transparency only matters if people can actually understand what's happening.
 

Government shouldn't feel inaccessible.
 

Residents shouldn't need an accounting degree to understand how their tax dollars are being spent.

Public officials have a responsibility to explain decisions clearly, answer questions honestly, and remain accountable to the people they serve.
 

Those beliefs ultimately led me to consider public office.
 

Like many residents, I followed local government closely. I paid attention to the conversations happening throughout our community and became increasingly concerned that too many residents felt unheard. As I watched the challenges facing Ward 2 and the opportunities on the horizon, I found myself asking a simple question: If I believe our community deserves better representation, what am I willing to do about it? That question stayed with me until I realized the answer was clear; I needed to step forward and run for City Council.
 

I kept asking myself the same question, "Why me?"
 

The answer eventually became another question, "If not me, then who?"
 

Ward 2 deserves representatives who show up.
 

Who listen.
 

Who communicate.
 

Who fight for the people who elected them.
 

Age should never determine someone's willingness to serve.
 

Character should.
 

My campaign isn't about politics. It's about people.
 

It's about making sure young families can continue to afford to live in the community they love.

It's about protecting what makes East Providence special while embracing thoughtful opportunities for growth.
 

It's about supporting small businesses that bring new energy to our neighborhoods.
 

It's about unlocking the incredible potential of our waterfront in a way that benefits residents for generations to come.
 

Most importantly, it's about making sure every resident feels they have someone at City Hall who genuinely cares about their concerns.
 

When I think about the future of East Providence, I think about the next generation of children who deserve memories like mine.

 

I want them to experience neighborhoods where they know their neighbors.
 

I want them to have traditions that bring families together.
 

I want them to grow up believing there is no better place to call home.
 

East Providence has given my family opportunities beyond anything my grandparents could have imagined when they were living in São Miguel.
 

My parents built a life here through sacrifice, perseverance, and faith.
 

Everything I am today is because of the opportunities this community gave our family.
 

Now, I hope to spend my life giving something back.
 

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about me.
 

Whether we agree on every issue or not, I hope you'll never hesitate to reach out, ask a question, share a concern, or simply introduce yourself.
 

After all, this campaign has never been about one person. It's about all of us, working together to build a stronger East Providence.