John,

I’m sure you know by now that I have spent many years of my life working as a registered nurse in St. Louis. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of going to school for nursing, and following in the footsteps of many other women in my family before me. What I didn’t expect was how hard it would be.

For years, I faced barrier after barrier in my journey to earn my nursing credentials. Ultimately, I was 32 years old before I was finally licensed. By then, I was thousands of dollars deep in student debt as a newly single mother.

My story is hardly unique. Across America, millions of people struggle for years pursuing their life’s dreams, simply to be laden with an impossible amount of debt and stagnant wages. That’s why one of my biggest policies would radically reinvest in our educational system. Here’s my plan:

Immediately eliminate all $1.6 trillion in college debt, and transition to tuition-free public colleges, trade schools, HBCUs, and MSIs
Invest in quality K-12 education for every child, in every zip code.
Expand Pell Grant to cover living expenses such as food, housing, transportation, and childcare; and make incarcerated and undocumented persons eligible for support.
Commit to free grad school for lawyers, doctors, social workers, and MBAs who agree to commit to careers in the public sector for 10 years time.

Every person in America deserves the chance to thrive. If we didn’t have to make so many calculations about tuition, debt, careers, and health insurance, how might our lives look different?

If we invested in our schools and teachers as we invest in our military, how might our country be different?

If all debt was cancelled right now, what opportunities would you pursue?

I paid off every $ of my student debt as a single mother. There is nothing the political establishment can do to stop me from fighting for our right to free, quality education. Are you with me?