Candidate for
Member of Council; City of Cincinnati

In 2002, when many people were leaving Cincinnati in the wake of racial civil unrest, I moved back home. Since my husband, five children and I returned from Chicago to the neighborhood of North Avondale, I have been an active volunteer and public servant, tirelessly devoted to making Cincinnati a better place for families and young people. I love the city and want to help it grow for all.

My efforts led me to the Cincinnati Board of Education, where in 2009 I was the only non-incumbent elected to the board from among 12 candidates. With all my children in Cincinnati Public Schools at the time -- and a graduate myself + I proved to be a strong advocate for families and communities. I earned a reputation for bringing people together across differences while demonstrating fiscal responsibility by voting in favor of saving money and taxpayer dollars.

My civic participation includes the Mayor's Youth Commission of Cincinnati and Chair of its Citywide Youth Summit Sub-committee. Other involvement ranges from my past positions as President of the board of Parents for Public Schools of Greater Cincinnati and a member of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati's Committee of Management at the Melrose Branch to my current role on the board of directors of the Art Academy of Cincinnati. I have also served as a member of the Lighthouse Youth Services board of directors, as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the juvenile court system. I am an alumna of the Urban League's African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP) Class XVI and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's WE (Women Excel) Lead, Class II.

Upon graduation from Walnut Hills High School, I earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati and pursued a successful career in child and family welfare in Cincinnati and Chicago. After returning to Cincinnati, I earned an MBA from Xavier University and later became Vice President of Community Engagement & Partnerships at ArtsWave (formerly the Fine Arts Fund). Currently, I am working on my Ph.D. through the Educational Studies Doctoral Program at the University of Cincinnati.

I am committed to seeing Cincinnati thrive in all neighborhoods.