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Meet Andrea
Hey—I’m glad you’re here! Make yourself at home and get to know a little bit about me.
I am not a politician with a long resume— I am a nurse, a researcher, and community advocate. The values that guide me in all those roles were shaped at home, by two first-generation Mexican immigrants who showed me what it means to work hard, care deeply, and not just speak up when something needs to change, but to do something about it. I grew up in a household that had little but gave much. My family faced housing insecurity, lost our home during the 2008 financial crisis, and lived with the constant challenge of making ends meet, even with both of my parents working full-time. And like so many children of immigrants, I grew up translating documents for my parents, advocating in schools and hospitals, and speaking up when they couldn’t. I’ve been stepping into that role since I was a child, and I never stopped.
My story may not have started in Durham, but it became my community. It became my family. And when you love a community like family, you fight for it like family. I began my nursing career here in Durham just months before the COVID-19 pandemic. II saw firsthand the devastating health disparities, especially in our Black and Brown communities. But I also realized that the real root causes—like unaffordable housing, unsafe streets, and city budgets that overlook our most vulnerable—were beyond the hospital walls and within the reach of City Council. That realization, coupled with the stories of the families I cared for, led me beyond the hospital walls and into one of the country’s only RN-to-PhD programs, where I’ve I learned how community listening can turn into real, evidence-based action. I made a commitment: my patients would no longer be just individuals; I would fight for whole communities.
I have spent the past several years deeply engaged in service and research focused on health, equity, and community wellbeing, from supporting families through my work with Lincoln Community Health Center, to advancing research on Black and Latina women’s health, to studying and listening to the physical and mental health of adolescents. Because even our youth know: health is wealth. Through it all, I’ve mentored future leaders because I want more young people to see themselves in positions of leadership.
Nursing has been voted the most trusted profession in America for 23 consecutive years, and there’s a reason for that. It’s because we listen, we act, and we show up when it matters most. And I’ve seen, again and again, that every zoning decision, every budget vote, and every transit decision is a health decision.
I’ve spent six years caring for Durham at the hospital, five years as a researcher, and a lifetime as a community advocate. Now, I’m ready to carry that same care into Durham’s City Hall. I know what happens when leadership fails to center health in every decision. And if we want different outcomes, we need different leadership—not just more passion, but leaders who can turn that passion into action, and stay grounded in evidence. That is the art of nursing. And that is the kind of leadership Durham deserves so we are not just known as the City of Medicine, but become a true City of Health.
This is why I’m running for Durham City Council — for us. Because we are family.
our platforM: Advocacy to Action
A Shared Vision for a Healthy, Thriving Durham
You Matter: Health in All Policies
Every zoning vote, transit plan, or policing budget impacts the health of our communities, but Durham lacks a formal process to assess how these decisions shape health outcomes. We need to embed health equity into the DNA of city decision-making.
Youth Mental Health & Well-being
Young people in Durham are facing rising levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation—real health concerns that affect their ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Their well-being must be treated as a public health priority, not just by schools or nonprofits, but through direct City Council leadership. We need to prioritize youth mental health and well-being as a core part of Durham’s equity work.
Protecting Immigrant Access to Care & Safety
In times of heightened immigration enforcement, fear can keep families from seeking health care, education, or safety services. When people are afraid to seek medical help, support services, or shelter, the entire community’s health suffers. Local government must take a stand to protect access to vital services for all residents regardless of immigration status.
Housing Justice & Renter Protection
More than 50% of Durham residents are renters, and that number continues to grow as the city rapidly develops. But as new construction rises, so do rent prices, and too many residents are being pushed out. In a city that’s growing forward, we need to make sure it’s growing with the people who call it home. Housing isn’t just a building, it’s a foundation for health, safety, and stability.
Building a Beautiful, Connected Durham
Everyone deserves to live in a city that feels good to walk through, move through, and be part of. But for too many Durham residents, that’s not the reality. From missing sidewalks to unsafe intersections to underfunded public art, our public spaces don’t always reflect the beauty or care our communities deserve. As a City Council member, I’ll work to make Durham safer, beautiful, and more connected because infrastructure is health, too.
Building a Stronger Local Economy
Small businesses are vital to Durham’s health, not just economic health, but community health. They create jobs, build culture, and connect neighborhoods. But today, too many local, Black, Brown, immigrant, and first-generation entrepreneurs face barriers: limited access to capital, complicated permitting, rising commercial rents, and few chances to grow through city contracts. City Council has celebrated Durham’s growth, but we must go further to ensure that opportunity is truly equitable and accessible to all.