Education
Indiana university - Bachelor of Arts, Sociology & Religious Studies, Spanish minor; University of Arizona - Master of Public Administration
Occupation
Bloomington Township Trustee
The township administers a number of supports for its residents who are experiencing hardships or living in poverty. We offer temporary financial assistance with rent/mortgage and utility bills, a low-barrier food pantry, help with transportation, medical, and burial costs.
We offer Social Security representative payee and Veterans Administration fiduciary services, assisting people in managing their budgets.
Bloomington Township provides grants to partner organizations in the community, and refers people to wraparound services routinely.
The township also serves several public functions. We're a notary public, we mediate fenceline disputes and handle weed complaints in unincorporated areas, and we maintain 3 historic cemeteries.
When I ran United Way, I became quite familiar with the townships. We worked closely together in times of disaster (past floods, tornadoes) and year-round on the COAD board. I also saw from that vantage point the townships' critical role in our safety net.
When Kim Alexander shared her retirement news, I felt drawn to the opportunity. I knew I had the requisite experience - executive leadership, local government finance, political leadership, along with early career experience in direct service provision and case management. I decided to go for it, hoping that I could bring my style of collaborative and compassionate leadership to a form of government that at times gets overlooked.
1. Collaborations are key - through partnerships, we have brought new services and programs to people who need them. A rural home repair program thanks to Monroe County, free A/C units to low-income residents susceptible to heat thanks to the City of Bloomington, and an embedded long-term case manager thanks to Heading Home of South Central Indiana. We partner with IU on internship programs and volunteer events.
2. Outreach - it is always more economical to help someone before a utility gets turned off or an eviction is filed. I want to continue to inform the public of our services, and all others in the community, as well as assure we're a safe and welcoming space for all.
3. Advocate - for programs that help lift people out of poverty.
At a minimum, townships administer emergency financial assistance to cover basic needs including shelter and food. While the emergency is often caused by an economic crisis such as the loss of one's job or a physical or mental health issue, sometimes it's caused by a fire, a tornado, or flood. When one is uninsured or underinsured, and living around or under the poverty line, this situation can easily spiral.
That's why I feel we can do, and we DO do so much more, as evidenced by my colleagues in recent years. We can ease the application process and expedite the dollars. We can work with second responders and make sure immediate needs are being met. We can work with hotels to house displaced people. We can organize clean-up efforts, etc.
