The System That's Supposed to Catch Them
Youth trafficking and abuse don’t happen because no one cares or no one is paying attention. Too often, they happen in the gaps of systems that are stretched too thin exactly where kids need them to hold the tightest.
Housing or Healthcare: The Choice Nobody Should Have to Make
Housing or healthcare. Food or the support that holds a family together. These are the choices people in this district are making right now, and the tax structure behind them is a decision Springfield made.
Ok, So - Who is Carina Santa Maria, Really?
She did her own FAFSA at seventeen because nobody in her family had ever filled one out. She made $10 an hour with a bachelor's degree doing the hardest work she's ever done. Here's the whole story - and why it's the reason she's running.
The Work Isn't Finished
Women's Equality Day isn't just about celebrating the 19th Amendment - it's about remembering why the right to vote matters in the first place. Progress doesn't happen because history moves forward on its own. It happens because people decide to keep moving it forward.
Civility Isn’t About Being Nice. It’s About Staying.
I became a social worker because I believed systems could serve people better. Compassion is how we actually get things done.
Compassion Isn't Soft — It's Policy
I became a social worker because I believed systems could serve people better. Compassion is how we actually get things done.
What Freedom Actually Means — A Reflection on America at 250
What the Blue Pinwheel Means to Me — and Why We Can't Stop at Awareness
What this Primary Win Means for District 27
This win matters because it was never about one person. It was about every conversation, every volunteer shift, every donation, and every neighbor who chose to believe in what we could build together. It is proof that our community is ready for leadership grounded in compassion, accountability, and real connection.
Your Voice Matters This Week — Why the Primary Election Is Important
Illinois’ Primary Election is this week, and it’s an important opportunity for voters to help shape the future of our communities. Here’s why primaries matter — and a quick look at what’s been happening around the 27th District.
What Social Work Taught Me About Leadership
Before I ever ran for office, I was a social worker. During National Social Work Month, I’m reflecting on how that experience continues to shape how I lead, how I approach policy, and why this work matters.
When Women Lead, Everything Changes
Women’s History Month isn’t just about honoring the past — it’s about deciding what kind of future we’re building. When women lead, policies shift, priorities expand, and communities are strengthened from the inside out.
A Lifetime of Lessons: My Dad’s Legacy
Nine years after my dad’s passing, I’m reflecting on the life he lived between the dates—the resilience, community, and opportunity that shaped who I am today, and why I’m running to serve our community.
Why I Stand 100% for Reproductive Freedom
My support for reproductive freedom is absolute.
On the Doors This Week: Property Taxes Came Up Again and Again
As I kicked off canvassing in Palatine this week, by far, the number one issue I heard at the doors was property taxes.
Affordability Is the Issue of Our Time
If affordability is keeping families up at night, then it’s our responsibility to build policies that finally give them room to breathe.
It Takes a Village: Building Stronger Communities Together
We thrive when we invest in one another. Shop small. Donate local.
We Are Failing Survivors: What the Epstein Case Reveals About Our National Blind Spot
When we leave space for victim-blaming, we silence survivors and empower abusers. It’s long past time we fix that.
The Promise of Due Process: Reflections From My Visit to Viator House of Hospitality
No one following the law should be living in fear. Due process is not optional—it’s a constitutional promise.
Together, We Are the Majority
When I looked out into that room, I was reminded that when our communities link arms and stand together, we are unstoppable—and together, we will win.