New! Civic SeasonA series of events, running from the April Municipal Elections to July 4th, aimed at reinvigorating our civic spirits. In a time of increasing national fragmentation and isolation, Manchester's Civic Season hopes to give neighbors the opportunity to come together around shared civic values such as belonging, being a good neighbor, service, and contributing towards the common good.
Past Activity
I have volunteered with the City of Manchester for over a decade and served as Alderman for Ward 2 since 2018. Raising children who attend Parkway Schools and serving on the Board of Aldermen connects me with the community as my family makes our home here in Manchester.
I believe in the power of neighborhoods and the gifts of those that live here. We are stronger as a community when everyone takes ownership and gets involved. The accessibility of local government and the responsiveness of elected officials and staff to residents' thoughts and ideas are a few of the things that make Manchester a special place to live. We are stronger when we know each other and combine our gifts to the benefit of our city.
That’s why I place “connectedness” at the center of my service. By working together and welcoming resident voices, I believe we collectively create the future we envision for our community.
My involvement has grown over the years and now my activity is focused in three areas of civic life: the City of Manchester, the Parkway School District, and in my neighborhood of Seven Oaks.
City of Manchester
Veterans: Collaborated with the Mayor, Board, and City staff to form the Manchester Veterans Commission and Planning Team. Honored to host several events per year such as POW-MIA Remembrance Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. Serve as Board of Aldermen Liaison to the Veterans Commission.
School Safety: Worked with Mayor Mike Clement to bring together Parkway and the City of Manchester Police Department and Staff for a “tabletop exercise” that explored multiple active shooter possibilities. The effort was successful and will be repeated on an annual basis to continue to strengthen the collaboration and communication between Parkway and the City of Manchester. Also identified the need for the Manchester Police Department to be familiar with the layout of Parkway South Middle School in the event of an emergency situation. While the school is under the jurisdiction of St. Louis County, the Manchester Police Department would likely be the first to respond in an extreme emergency given the school’s proximity to Manchester. Thanks to the efforts of both the City of Manchester and the Parkway School District, officers now have information about the school and its premises should it be necessary in an emergency.
Annexation Leadership Team: Serving on the City’s Annexation Leadership Team that is hosting a community-wide conversation about the benefits and opportunities possible when we join with our immediate neighbors in the annexation area. Contributed to the City’s crafting of a thorough “plan of intent” and organized the City’s community engagement effort and listening tour.
Ward 2 Trustee Meetings: Initiated annual meetings of Ward 2 trustees in recognition of the important role trustees and neighborhoods play as stakeholders in Manchester neighborhoods. These important gatherings between Mayor Mike Clement, Ward 2 Alderwomen, City Staff, and trustees provide opportunities for information sharing and relationship building that continues throughout the year, helping the strength and health of Ward 2.
Neighborhood safety: Worked with the Police Department to design Manchester’s implementation of the “Lock it or Lose it” program. This effort includes signage, community meetings, and social media resources, and partners with trustees and neighborhoods to implement a safety campaign to encourage residents to prevent crime by removing valuables from cars and securing doors.
Helped envision and plan the City’s first Safety Summit in 2019, which addressed local safety concerns: opioid addiction, suicide prevention, and gun safety. Efforts continue today as the City looks to identify needs and partner with organizations that support the wellbeing of residents.
Flags of Valor: Worked to facilitate the gift of 26 “Flags of Valor” to the city, which formerly had flown on Art Hill as part of the “Flags of Valor America’s Heartland Remembers” memorial installation in honor of those killed in the GWOT. Helped lead the community effort of more than 120 volunteers that paired the 7200 photos and dog tags of heroes killed, photos that were ultimately used to dedicate individual flags flown in memorial on Art Hill in 2021.
Voter Education: Collaborated with Manchester’s City Clerk’s office to create a series of educational videos aimed at helping residents vote during the pandemic. Videos were featured on social media by both the City of Manchester and the St. Louis County Board of Elections.
Composting: Collaborated with City staff to supply subsidized composters to Manchester residents in an effort to reduce food waste at the curb. Project included grant writing, community education, and composter distribution.
Recycling containers in Schroeder Park: Advocated for recycling containers to be placed at park shelters in Schroeder Park. Containers were subsequently installed in 2020.
Reducing recycling contamination: Work to share education with Manchester residents to reduce contamination in City’s single stream recycling at the curb.
Electronics Recycling: Collaborated with the Public Works Director to secure grant funding for residents to recycle CRTs (TVs and monitors) at no cost at Manchester’s long-running Electronics Recycling events. This initial effort continues today.
Vaping: Collaborated with the Mayor, Board, and Police Department, School Resource Officers, and community organizations to strengthen the City’s vaping ordinance to prohibit the sales of vaping products within certain distances of schools.
Mental Wellness: Initiated a partnership with St. Luke’s and the Parks & Recreation Department to provide mental health programming, such as classes on stress management and meditation.
Manchester Arts: A founding director of Manchester Arts, where I wrote the first grant supporting the painting of area traffic boxes as part of Manchester Arts’ public art effort. Served on the team that formed the Manchester Community Band, which continues today.
City Groups:
Board of Aldermen, Alderman for Ward 2 (since 2018)
Veterans Commission (Board Liaison)
Annexation Leadership Team
Playground Planning Committee
“Lessen the Distance” Leadership Team
Parkway School District
Proposition S - Citizens for the Parkway Community: Co-chair of the citizens effort in support of Prop S which will provide much needed support for the aging infrastructure of the Parkway School District. The $265 million proposition passed in November 2022, with a 77% voter approval rate, the highest approval rate of a District proposition in the last 30 years.
Project Parkway 3.0 Steering Committee: Representing community and parent voices as part of Parkway’s next phases of strategic planning.
Parkway Equity and Diversity Task Force: Working with local leaders, educators, and administrators to craft recommendations based on Parkway’s 2019 Equity Survey. Small group collaboration focused on sharing the community’s voice in Parkway’s equity efforts, as municipalities, state house districts, and neighborhoods encompassed by Parkway School District. As community stakeholders, these associations also contribute to the wellbeing of students.
Parkway Government Relations: Interact with community members and State and Federal Legislators in support of the Parkway School District.
Seven Oaks Subdivision
Trustee, 2016-present
Street Trees: Worked with John O’Toole, horticulturist, and fellow trustees to offer street trees to residents, thanks to a grant from Forest ReLeaf.
Renovation of cul-de-sac beds: In honor of the subdivision’s 40th anniversary, collaborated with the trustee team to renovate the cul-de-sac beds on all the original streets of Seven Oaks.
Community Building: Spearheaded activities to build community including National Night Out, Circle of Concern Canned Food Drives, Bike Parade, Easter Egg Hunts, Bunny Parade, Fire Truck Santa gatherings, various pandemic activities, $5K fundraiser for Circle of Concern, Holiday Lights Walk, and Free Little Library. These activities strengthen our bond as a community, lessening the distance and differences between us. Strong communities create neighbors that care for one another and promote a feeling of ownership and belonging among residents.