Position/philosophy statement
My life's work built on servant-leadership, prioritizing people over policy, and advocating for transparency and accountability in governance.
Current Occupation
Non-Profit Executive Director and Community Leader
Campaign Phone
3365876062
I’m in my 2nd term on the County Planning Board, where we are responsible for county-wide zoning. The Planning Board is said to be the best training ground to serve at the commissioner level.
My commitment to public service runs deep as a former teacher in Guilford & Alamance, and professor at 2 colleges, recently HPU. I've led a local non-profit for youth since 2012, & advocated for affordable housing, public safety, & criminal justice reform.
For 20+ years of public work, I received the Old North State Award by Gov. Roy Cooper & an appointment to NC Courts Commission since 2018 as the only non-attorney/legislative member. There, I’ve advocated against juvenile vaping for bail reform. I have served as a congregational leader for 23 years.
GCS’s share of federal funding is in limbo along with $46 Million of deferred maintenance. With 53% of the county’s budget funding schools, commissioners & the school board must work more creatively to avert crisis. In schools we have vulnerable immigrant students that will need officials to advocate if raids were to destabilize households as it has in Mecklenburg & Wake. Secondly, our county lacks affordable housing which is amplified outside city municipalities since dense, multi-family developments aren’t allowed. Therefore, the cost of new housing in rural areas is less affordable. With the growth brought by big business, the Commission will have to work fast to identify attainable housing in rural areas, without absorbing agriculture.
From my perspective as a former teacher in GCS, commissioners must identify more supplemental pay for teachers and classified employees because we are losing our talent to neighboring counties, even across state lines, where pay is more prime. Many teachers can no longer afford to teach, and therefore are seeking other career paths, which is a loss of genuine professionals who have to prioritize providing for themselves and their families. I would support the 1/4 cent tax referendum to raise the capital for these purposes. I'd also like to spearhead the expansion of mental health services for upper-level students who are experiencing crisis. Our students/youth are in dire need of new & innovative approaches to deal with their anxieties.
Currently, we have a small business & entrepreneurship program that provides equal access to participate in all aspects of contracting & procurement programs, including various professional services & construction. While new & exciting development is moving to town, many small businesses are on the verge of closing. Also, small business contractors are often met with red tape that makes it harder to access a piece of the pie when bidding for work. I propose to expand support services & public awareness around local businesses, which keeps Guilford dollars in Guilford. Further, I would like to curate an initiative that recruits talent from the 6 colleges here to encourage post-grads to establish themselves in Guilford.
I would like to advocate for mental health care expansion. So many adults are suffering from substance abuse crisis and life-altering traumas that has escalated the rise in mental health crisis across everywhere. Guilford’s new behavioral health center is distinguished as being the first to offer urgent and crisis-level services health in one location, and I would like to build upon that foundation of innovation. I would also like to expand health care initiatives to rural areas, particularly to seniors and others who may be suffering from a reduction in access to health care due to new federal laws.
Since gaining substantial support in ‘22 for this seat with nearly 47% of the vote, I’m running again to bring a fresh perspective to local politics & to join the outcry for relevant representation of everyday issues impacting a broad base of folk. I also want to grow Guilford while supporting, helping, & representing people. Not as a black person, not as a person of faith, not as an activist, but as a person who feels the burden of all. Many are sick without access to prime healthcare, facing eviction/housing insecurity, underemployment and disenchantment with politics. Our justice system is stressed by the influx of crime, particularly involving youth who are fighting hopelessness & mental health crises, while our system of public education is in dire straits with post-pandemic dilemmas. Our elderly are concerned with being priced out/taxed out of their neighborhoods. Also, the looming threat of ICE also demands local leadership that will advocate for all. I will be that voice.
Position/philosophy statement
Strong Public Schools. Food Security. Living Wages. Community Justice. I am committed to building a Guilford County where our policies reflect our values, where compassion is paired with accountability, and where justice is reparative.
Current Occupation
Divisional human resources director at UNC-Chapel Hill
Campaign Phone
336-365-6842
Growing up in Guilford County, I have seen the best and the worst this county has to offer. My family struggled with food and housing insecurity, but I also benefited from many government and nonprofit programs that are now being underfunded. Because of my life experiences, the needs of Guilford’s residents are not abstractions for me. As a Dudley High School graduate, with two sons in GCS public schools, I will fight for full funding for our schools. I am proud of my endorsement by the Guilford County Education Association. Using skills I have developed as a minister, a human resources director, and a community activist, I pledge to listen to the many voices in the county, and find solutions that allow all of us to thrive.
The biggest issue faced by the county commission, in the face of diminished federal funding and a gerrymandered state legislature intent on bankrupting our schools and safety net, is how to continue to meet the everyday needs of county residents. The commission needs not only to find funds, but also to develop the best and most efficient practices to establish and maintain excellent public schools, safe and affordable housing, low-barrier access to health care, and training for living-wage jobs. Finally, I believe the county commissioners need to work with our local state representatives to demand that the NC legislature fulfill its duty to fully fund our schools.
Guilford County has lost teachers and staff to nearby counties that pay higher wages and supplements, resulting in teacher turnover and shortages in classrooms, school buses, cafeterias, etc. On my Decades listening tour, I’ve heard from students about the effects on their education of having short- and long-term substitutes in their classes, about bus routes that take way too long for lack of drivers, and about a shortage of professional support staff for students in need. I support a quarter-cent sales tax that would be dedicated to increasing salaries for Guilford County Schools educators so we can retain our experienced and effective workers.
As Guilford County continues to invest in attracting high-quality companies that pay liveable wages, I will focus on increasing accessibility to these new jobs for county residents. This means collaboration between the county, the companies, and our schools/community colleges to provide specific job training; between the county and the companies to offer convenient transportation to outlying job sites, and between the county and companies to make child-care affordable to working parents. With these efforts, we will increase the county’s prosperity by helping our residents secure jobs that offer good pay, benefits and advancement.
Guilford County is fortunate to have hundreds of non-profit organizations working alongside city and county governments to help residents in need. At this moment in time, when so many of the usual funding sources have been greatly diminished, we need to cooperate in ways that increase efficiency and effectiveness. I would work to connect county and city leaders so we can use public resources to cover underserved areas. I would listen to and follow the advice of local non-profit leaders, who have the best firsthand knowledge of what our residents need and what they want. Finally, I would work to lessen the barriers to service for people with mental health, medical, and substance abuse challenges.
My commitment to public service is grounded in faith, lived experience, and a belief that our county government has a moral responsibility to care for all residents, especially the most vulnerable. I believe Guilford County can lead with compassion and still do the hard work of protecting civil liberties, honoring workers, and investing in systems that allow families to thrive.
Position/philosophy statement
Strong Schools. Safe Homes. Bright Futures.
Current Occupation
Full time candidate, volunteer, community advocate
Age (optional)
54
Campaign Phone
336-587-3300
I worked for 15 years for NC REALTORS and was immersed in the housing industry and the real estate business industry. I bring board experience and leadership experience as a I managed large and diverse groups of REALTORS and property managers throughout my time at the trade association.
My work as a Guardian ad Litem and as a Guilford County Schools employee (tutor) allowed me to gain experience in the school system, the social services systems and the court system. I have advocacy experience and co-founded a group of 100 people to spread truth through our community. I am currently serving on the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and work with non profits to keep at risk youth from entering the juvenile justice system.
Ensuring our public schools are fully funded and that we are paying teachers and staff adequately (and beyond). Our children our are future and their education is the bedrock of success for our community. We must ensure they graduate from high school, are well educated and have experience and knowledge that will carry them into our workforce. Our education system is the basis for workforce development and graduating qualified workers contributes to our economic development and success as a community as a whole. Collaborating with businesses, non profits and early college/technical college to provide training for kids before they enter the workforce prepares them for a bright future and fills jobs from within our community.
Funding teacher and staff pay is critical to our schools' success. We should have the best teachers in the country in our school system. Having the addition of teacher aids and support staff is critical and would relieve some of the burden teachers are facing today. We also should be providing before/after school care and summer care that allows parents to work full time and feel confident their children are well cared for and receive continuous learning opportunities. Keeping our kids engaged and occupied removes the temptations and keeps them on the path to success.
When we look to our schools for workforce development, our schools will improve. Even as far back as elementary school, we can begin teaching skills that will translate to jobs in our community. With a robust and prepared workforce; companies employing people from within our own community, our economy grows. When people are paid wages that afford them a lifestyle with freedoms, they will spend money where they live. Guilford County should also continue to grow our tourism industry, our college campuses and our ability to attract and host large events. Being a place that is thriving shows potential companies, both large and small that we are the place to invest.
Our social services need more funding and more staffing. Salaries should be competitive so we attract the best staff for these positions. Direction of services should be clear and transparent and constantly evaluated and monitored. Mental health, the foster care system and addiction rehabilitation services should be priorities in our community and there should be services accessible and affordable for everyone. With children at the forefront of our minds, services should reach as many children who need it - for them and for their caretakers - and should be readily available to them.
I look forward to serving as the Guilford County Commissioner At Large. My experiences in the housing/real estate industries and my hands on involvement in the school system, in social services, the juvenile justice and court systems translate well for this job. I plan to listen, learn and lead and involve the entire community in my research, communication and policy making. I'm dedicated to making this a full time commitment.
