I’ve lived in the Northwest for over 20 years. This is where I raised my three children and watched them all graduate from RCSD high schools. I love this city and I’ve dedicated myself to promoting and improving it through my work and volunteer service. As your District Councilmember, I will see to it that the Northwest is properly represented in planning, public works, recreation, youth services, economic development and public safety.
I’m a lifelong Democrat and I stand firm in my belief in the equality of all people and the need for an equitable society, one that rejects racism, sexism, homophobia, and discrimination of any kind. I understand the stress our neighbors and neighborhoods are under, especially with the dramatic increase in gun violence, and I know that, with my extensive experience, I can get to work immediately on creating and implementing solutions. My priority is to serve you and uplift our neighborhoods.
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Experience
Town of Brighton 2018-Present
I work for the Town of Brighton as the Assistant to the Town Supervisor. Special projects include: Being public liaison for the Community Choice Aggregation program and contributing to the recently adopted Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Action Plan.
City of Rochester 1998-2017
From 1998 to 2014, I worked as an Anaylst for City Council and contributed to a wide variety of projects, including the revision of the Zoning Code and completion of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan, “Renaissance 2010”, which was just updated. I helped write the Living Wage Ordinance, researched and collaborated on the Lead Paint Ordinance, monitored and reported on findings of the Police Civilian Review Board, and more. I’ve analyzed 20 years of City and School District Budgets and Consolidated Community Plans, which allocate millions of federal dollars that are received by the city annually.
From 2014 to 2017, I was a member of the former mayor’s Senior Management Team. I managed the entire legislative process and worked with every department on submissions for Council vote and oversaw communications with Council.
Volunteerism
I served on the board of Mercy Community Services for five years. MCS oversaw Mercy Residential Services, which provided housing and social services to homeless pregnant and parenting teenage girls on Oriole St., and Mercy Outreach Services, which provides free medical services to those who can’t afford them on Webster Ave.
For over a decade I pushed for equitable school funding and advocated for parents and students of the City School District. I served as secretary then member of the District’s Parent Advisory Council for three years and advocated for increased parent involvement and additional mental health specialists at our most challenged schools.
I was the founding president of Montessori Academy #53 PTA, which worked to build relationships between families and share the philosophy behind the Montessori teaching method. I organized parents and teachers to speak at school board meetings to demand safety in our school, then housed at Franklin, and was successful in reinstating three-year-olds to the school. I was also a parent representative on the School Based Planning Team for several years.
As a board member of the Genesee Valley Regional PTA, I brought the problems facing City schools to state legislators during lobby day and illustrated the dire need for an equitable educational system.
Education
Smith College, Northampton, MA Bachelor of Arts
Study abroad in Zimbabwe / Double major: Government & Women’s Studies