About Me
From my earliest days growing up just outside Hartford, CT, I would daydream about the future of our cities. I could see the inequity between the affluent ring of suburbs and the historic urban core that was crumbling from depopulation and disinvestment. In pursuit of understanding how cities work, my studies would focus on the fundamentals of local government and the built environment.
My career would take me across the country (a few times) to learn, develop, and implement best practices in placemaking, community empowerment, and equitable development. From disaster recovery in New Orleans to urban sustainability in Skid Row Los Angeles, to new mobility, smart cities, and public policy, I have sought ways to expand my understanding as someone working to create positive change.
As a licensed architect, I am committed to our sustainability and resiliency as a community and recognize the value of public investments. We also have a long way to go to address the systemic inequities of past generations. I am an experienced community advocate and passionate about bringing people together to address our most urgent social, economic and environmental issues for not just the future of my children but for generations to come.
My Values
-
We need equitable, sustainable change in our cities as we rebuild in a post-pandemic world. Resources are limited so we must agree to and work toward a shared vision, bringing partners and local capacity to the table. Restoring trust will require more accountability and transparency in how we work while universally expanding effective, intentional engagement and service delivery. People are at the center of all great places and must be put first.
-
The world is rapidly changing and the challenges facing the generations of people in our cities and workplace are no less complex. We need to explore new business models, evolve the tools we use, and take action. We must immediately stabilize our workforce and equip our people - both professional and volunteer - with the space for bringing new ideas and improvements forward. Innovation thrives when creativity is embraced and encouraged.
-
Collaboration requires clear policy, strategic planning, and the ability to track progress through measures of success. This builds accountability and can help ensure a shared vision is achievable through clear goals and expectations. We must acknowledge implicit bias to learn from the past and support each other by being respectful. Public policy should be driven by data, research, best practices, and a thorough understanding of benefits and risks. Our public sector must respond with data-driven operations, fostering an environment of accountability and collaboration.