Campaign Phone
302-287-4302
Neighborhood/area of residence
Eastside of Wilmington
Education
Archmere Academy, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Work Experience
DuPont Experimental Station: Laboratory Technician; DNREC: Pollution Prevention Program-Community Outreach; Delaware Department of Corrections: Correctional Officer;
Community Involvement
Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advocate; Landlord-Tenant Rights Advocate; Re-entry advocate for ex-offenders; Environmental Justice Advocate
Bridging and overcoming the widening gap between the haves and have nots. This feeds into the following: the lack of affordable housing, increasing number of unhoused individuals and families, lack of investment in neighborhoods, need for job opportunities that provide a living wage for families, a rising sense of hopelessness leading to the increasing opioid and overdose epidemic that contributes to an increase in crime. The need for activities for youth that provide structure and increasing parental engagement in local schools. Another concern is the neglect of critical infrastructure improvements that haven't kept pace with the development of condos and high-rise apartments will stress an already overburdened system.
I'm a problem solver, with a knack for and passion for identifying issues. 'm able to collaborate with others by forming, maximizing, and leveraging relationships to create solutions to make change. As a childhood lead poisoning prevention advocate, I've worked with others to increase the lead testing rate and reduce lead exposure by addressing the presence of lead in housing. I participated on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Advisory Committee as the chair of the Primary Prevention Subcommittee. I've given public comment, testimony and provided written comment before various state agencies. I've given public comment before the City Council and spoke to the Mayor Purzycki, on many occasions about the issue.
I believe that the increased commercial growth is contributing to the increasing division between the haves and have-nots because the neighborhoods are being denied access to investment opportunities. If a developer or corporation receives tax breaks, subsidies, or zoning variances, then something must be given in return. There should be a 'quid pro quo' for residents that contribute to neighborhood revitalization by investing in the community, a percentage of every development should include an affordable housing component and providing living wage jobs for families.
The Coastal Zone Conversion Permit Act, we could attract new environmentally friendly, safe, innovative green jobs. The third district is ideally located to be the main hub of this initiative because transportation, railway and the Port of Wilmington and other waterway infrastructure that is already in place. By reaching out to federal partners and taking advantage of the existing federal and state funding resources, Wilmington could experience an industrial renaissance. Also, by creating an office of environmental justice and sustainability, our city could address and many of the problem of our industrial past by training and hiring Wilmingtonians to improve our city. The benefits are economic and improved health, to name a few.
The Council and the Mayor should be partners in creating policies rooted in serving the community, that is community inspired, that serves the community and its constituents, with the common goal of moving the city forward. Council and the Mayor must be able to identify and solve common problems and issues that transcends the district and affect the entire city, by being fair and respecting everyone's freedom of expression.
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