I announced earlier this month that I am planning to stand for election as a Liberal Democrat councillor in Hackney, yet I'm still posed a common question by journalists and friends alike: why the Lib Dems? Following the riots, all the major political parties courted me. But when the bad press came out about me having being a drug fixer after a sting in November 2011, hardly anyone wanted anything to do with me any more. The Liberal Democrats, however, didn't turn their backs like others did.

The Lib Dems promote opportunities amongst the disenfranchised, and this is crucial to people living in poor communities, like mine, many of whom only know of criminogenic lifestyles. I had already been a fan of their ideas, but when the whole issue came about and they still were prepared to take me under their wing, that's when I really considered the party.

For me, this is all about a second chance. I've been in gangs, I've dealt with drugs, I've been in prison and I've experienced the most rubbish of lives at one stage. As I've been at both ends of the field, I hope that my input will make the youths look up and say: "You know what? If she can do it, I can do it. I can turn my life around. I can look for that second chance in life." It doesn't have to be about being out there dealing on street corners and getting involved with gangs, and doing all the things that lead you to prison.

I want to bring more political awareness and political engagement with ethnic minorities. People should know there is nothing to be scared of and that it is important that we all get involved in our community. Although they haven't got any black MPs, the Lib Dems did put up black candidates and they have a lot of black and Asian councillors.

I particularly like Brian Paddick's ideas for making a change concerning the youths, and for looking for solutions to helping them change their lives around. He, like myself, is concerned that there is still racial stereotyping of youths as offenders and that blanket stop and search tactics are causing so much resentment as to be counter-productive. I've met so many people on my crusade who have turned their lives around. They were formerly gang members, but they're now giving back to the community. Hours and hours of their time is spent doing good for the community and they don't get paid back or noticed. I was only noticed because of my rant that day and if it wasn't filmed, it would have been another thing I'd have done that no one would have known about.

I want to introduce community centres and youth clubs which would give people somewhere to go providing them a full range of activities to get involved in. These centres/clubs will be built by the community for the community and run by the community for all ages, offering a mentoring and support system for job searching, CV advice, music, arts and crafts and catering, child care and scholarships and apprenticeships for all subject matters.

Combining diversity in the community will bridge the gap of ignorance. I want to pay special attention to pensioners and people with disabilities offering them help and support at the centres by trained carers and helpers. To fund the centres, we would source specific funding from central government and from charitable bodies for a pilot project. This also could be supported by relocating money within Hackney council's budget. These centres would provide a caring, supportive, stable, environment based in the community for those who probably do not have this type of support at home. They would offer encouragement to do some thing constructive – further education, life skills training. These centres will be all about the big turn around and second chances for many in the community just like me, who want to change for the better.

Before and since the riots, I have done my best to turn my life and be actively involved in my community, trying to make a change for the better. Since the riots I have been chased, vetted, courted by all parties. I spent a long time in making my decision, as I come from a family of devout Labour voters – my choice was not made lightly.