Born in Los Angeles, CA, Sallia, was raised in foster care where she was surrounded by poverty, violence, and injustice. But instead of letting this dictate her future, she used her situation as motivation to work hard and go beyond her circumstances. Having first-hand experience with the juvenile justice system through relatives and friends gave Sallia insight on the reformation of the current justice system. She graduated with a BA in English with a Minor in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University. 

After graduation, she conducted extensive research on the intersectionality of child welfare and foster care systems and the juvenile justice system on behalf of Kamala Harris during her tenure as California Attorney General. She is pursuing her JD at the University of San Francisco School of Law. She would like to work in the juvenile justice sector and advocate for foster youth and youth at risk, helping to create new laws and policies that positively impact their lives and prevent them from incarceration.