Why The Programs Matter to Me

Each and every program is incredibly personal and important to me. All of the work we do at The Do Better Initiative is powered by the communities and people we serve. The girls who don’t have access to period products, but still have to and find a way to go to school and get good grades. The teens in foster care who have never had a Christmas because their needs are expensive or they put their younger siblings first. The neurodivergent youth and their caregivers who aren’t receiving the support they deserve from their classroom. Read on to learn why I am passionate about these programs.

End Period Poverty

As a female teen, I can’t imagine not having the resources to manage my period. When my friend, neighbor, and mentor, Ginhee Rancourt (founder of Our Future Prize), had extra suitcases for her trip the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, Africa, and asked if there was anything I wanted to send with her, I jumped at the chance to create and send period kits. With support from my neighbors, family, and friends, we got 100 for her. While I knew the kits were needed, it is impossible to put into words the passion I felt seeing the true gratefulness coming from the smiling faces of the girls in the pictures I received from Ginhee. I also received emails from a few girls, and something one said really stood out to me. She thanked me not only for the kits, but for remembering her and her community. What I didn’t realize before, is that to these young women these kits aren’t just resources, they are a message saying, “You are NOT forgotten, and you deserve these products.”

Create Inclusive Classrooms

The Creating Inclusive Classrooms program matters so much to me because it's inspired by my beautiful little sister, Emma Luna, and the real challenges she faced when she tried out traditional school so she could learn with kids her age (she's homeschooled now, like me and our brother). I know this firsthand because I was right there as her aide to support her, seeing up close how overwhelming those environments could be for her. No matter how much I tried, it was difficult to explain to teachers her needs. I don’t blame them in the least, they really were trying their best, and I get that sometimes her cues are hard to pick up on and that you have a whole class to teach as well. It still broke my heart to watch her struggle to feel comfortable or included, and it showed me how many other children face the same isolation every day. That's why bringing sensory kits, calming corners, and workshops to Texas classrooms feels so deeply personal; it's my way of ensuring every child, like Emma, can feel truly seen, supported, and able to learn with friends. While the items are super important, I believe the workshops are the key to success of inclusion. If all teachers, not just specialized special education ones, are equipped with the knowledge, they will be able to help every learner soar. Turning our journey into meaningful change for others gives me hope, and I want to keep helping build a world where no child ever feels like an afterthought.

Support Foster Youth

As a homeschooled teen with my two younger siblings, family is everything to me. They are who empower me every day to Do Better, and I have always been fortunate to feel secure and loved. The Support Foster Youth program is how I share this with those who haven't had a stable home. While I know that Christmas gifts are just items and aren’t even close to that, I hope it conveys the message, “You are loved, cared for, and remembered. There are people who know you deserve all the good things in life. You shine.” Teens are super important to support, not only because their needs are expensive and commonly overlooked; but they are also in that awkward, confusing time period where they are faced by the prospect of almost being adults. This is even more intense for teens in foster care, because at 18 they age out of the system, so they are no longer receiving support, and don’t have a family safety net. My dream is to empower these youth to break the cycle, and become adults with confidence.

The Do Better Initiative

The Do Better Initiative is more than a high school passion project to me, and is something I am excited to continue doing. It is born from my family's motto, “Do Better,” and has grown into something more amazing than I could have ever dreamed of! 

My belief? When we empower youth we are empowering the future. And my end goal? Shape a future where no child feels like their needs are an afterthought so they can thrive. 

While this seems like a lofty goal, I am already seeing fire catching (yes, hunger games fan here) in communities from Bastrop, TX, to Malawi, Africa. When I see others share this passion, it only empowers me more.