About
I originally came to the Champaign-Urbana area to attend the University of Illinois. After falling in love with the culture and diversity of the town, I decided to stay after graduation.
To date I have lived in the CU area for over 30 years.
For fifteen years I have lived in the City of Champaign 06 Precinct, with 6 of those years being the Democratic Precinct Committee person for it.
Some of my experience includes:
Spent 2 years helping to run the Salvation Army Men’s Shelter as part of the AmeriCorps program.
Worked 4 years at the Mental Health Center teaching life skills to those with mental illness.
Worked for 2 years at the Regional Planning Commission helping run the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program.
Worked at the Cunningham Children’s Home directly with at-risk youth.
For the last 10 years I have been a civil servant at the University of Illinois, currently working in the School of Library Sciences (iSchool).
Am a friend of Labor and have been a delegate to the Champaign County AFL-CIO for 8 years now, having been a Trustee and Sergeant at Arms for it as well.
Have been an active part of my Neighborhood Association for 5 years.
Led the drive with my neighbors to have the proposal for the Neil Street Corridor plan changed so that homes and families were the priorities north of Bradley instead of tearing these down to put up apartment complexes and townhomes.
Also organized my neighbors to change the zoning with the city so that our neighborhood along Neil St was changed from Multi-family dwelling to Single family homes.
Lately I have been going to food pantries to pick up for some of my neighbors who have mobility and transportation issues.
Revitalizing the local Jobs with Justice chapter through reaching out to both community organizations and labor unions I assist in.
I have deep roots in this community and look forward to serving the constituents of District 11 and Champaign County over the next decades.
Thank you.
(Written March 2023)