Cato’s passion for organizing was ignited in 2016. As a Political Science Major at Valdosta State University, Cato served as the Vice President of the Student Government Association and President of the Young Democrats. Seeing first-hand the impact policy had on real people in marginalized communities, he was called to action.

In 2018, Othellious took a break from his studies to join the senatorial campaign of Beto O’Rourke in Texas. The opportunity to serve on the frontlines of the fight for fair representation in rural underserved communities was one that he answered without hesitation. Seeing the need to further resource serve rural communities, Othellious joined AmeriCorps in 2020 and completed two years of service as a Tier Two Interventionist. It was during this work that he observed the connection between policy, and economic, food, and climate justice in rural communities. 

Othellious is ever-focused on affecting policy using grassroots organizing at the state and local levels. He is currently finishing his bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy at Grand Canyon University.