Robert has worked for underrepresented students and citizens his entire professional career, helping students afford the crippling cost of college, and he championed the work of minority entrepreneurs, closing the working capital gap, ensuring that these entrepreneurs kept their business doors open. Currently, he is training the next generation of workers for the technological jobs of the future. During the last five years, his focus has been on workforce development, climate change initiatives, and understanding environmental justice issues- disaster planning, preparedness, and resiliency; food deserts; affordable housing; water, sewer, and wastewater infrastructure; and preserving the natural resources in rural and low-income communities.

In his first session in the South Carolina Legislature, Robert's focus will be on expanding Medicaid and access to healthcare in rural and under-resourced communities, energy conservation, increasing funding for early childhood education, and increasing economic and workforce development in District 70 and across South Carolina.

Robert has changed the advocacy game by increasing community engagement and dialogue in communities rarely known for participating in the political process. Residents want a voice in the democratic process; they just do not see the current political process as providing a lane for their issues. Robert meets residents through focus groups, community think tanks, and meetings with student advocacy groups, and he brings their concerns to the "proverbial" table to find "common sense" solutions to the community's problems.

Now, he needs your help to run for the SC House of Representatives to do even more.