Mark

I’m a guy that’s a mix of contrasts. I'm a nice guy but can also be tenacious and audacious. I was born in and grew up in Los Angeles (not the burbs, Highland Park, when it was working class Mexican-American, before it became hipster), but have lived in the Bay Area for almost 30 years (with a stint in Chicago and the east coast in between). I’m soft spoken but not afraid to loudly express the contrarian point of view. I’m comfortable talking with top State officials but think it is more important to show my respect and appreciation to clerical staff/janitor/etc. I was told by a colleague that I’m such an effective advocate because I’m honest and sincere, but I'm also capable of making up some of the most fanciful stories (only in jest). I’ve worked in the bureaucracy, and now with the bureaucracy, but I’m not good with rules or authority and have been a whistle blower. I’m pretty much always willing to make a joke (particularly at my own expense) and love the ridiculous, and, oops… no contrast here.

So what does all of this mean? I’m a policy wonk working with a bunch of behavioral economists to make it easier for people to qualify for public assistance programs like food stamps. But I’m not afraid to escape the ivory tower and spend time in low-income neighborhoods (something I did a lot when I worked in low-income housing) to remind myself about the reality of poverty and that the work that I do impacts real people. Which is also why I’m not afraid to fight when I think is something is wrong. This is what’s important to me.

Vergine

Muscoloso

5' 6 (1.68 m)

Asiatico