Jacklyn Tomlin is a three-time graduate of CUNY with a degree in Disability Studies. While in graduate school, she focused on advocacy, never imagining that the framework she learned in class would become an essential tool for mobilizing her own community.

As a Black woman navigating the daily struggles of life in New York City, Jacklyn was compelled to take action after witnessing the systemic neglect and apathy affecting her neighborhood. Living in a historically redlined community now burdened by overcrowding, housing instability, and resource deprivation, she saw firsthand how disenfranchisement leads to disengagement.

When the conditions in her neighborhood became impossible to ignore—such as lead in the water, rising substance abuse, and the tragic murder of a child—Jacklyn knew something had to change. Without a team or institutional backing, she turned to artificial intelligence to organize, mobilize, and advocate for her community.

Her efforts eventually caught the attention of her local senator and councilwoman, demonstrating that AI can be a revolutionary tool for grassroots activism.