My motivation for running for Library Trustee is a desire to be actively involved in my community and work towards protecting one of our most valuable public resources. We chose to settle in Oak Park because of its outstanding sense of community and I am delighted to be a part of that.
I have spent most of my career in public service. I will bring my experience in federal and state government and expertise in policy matters to the Board. I have been an effective public servant because of my ability to empathize, learn from every person I meet, and connect people and ideas based on their needs and strengths.
A Trustee should be comfortable showing compassion and respect for different points of view while remaining true to personal values. A Trustee should be able to discuss complex policy issues and seek opportunities for compromise to achieve the greatest good.
The Board’s primary responsibility is to steer the operation of the library in a way that is consistent with the needs of the community. The Board and Library staff should have a working relationship, one that is seen as mutually beneficial.
In 2014, I was responsible for leading over 35 working groups that comprised more than 950 stakeholders representing the healthcare industry, the insurance industry, medical professionals, and other interested parties. I was responsible for helping each working group develop a charter, stay on target, and ensure there was “cross-pollination” among the groups. Our efforts resulted in the development of the Alliance for Health Plan, a consensus-built blueprint for health policy changes. Consensus was reached through mutual respect and open-mindedness.
Transparency means open lines of communication at all levels. It is imperative to not just use the normal channels (website, email, etc.) but also continue to explore alternative means of communicating with our community.
Constituent services is a critical part of any elected official’s job. As a Trustee, I would welcome any opportunity to engage with a constituent. To me, engaging with the community also means being an “ambassador” for the Library and being an active participant in events and offerings.
I strive to be an ally, a good listener, and someone who is always learning from others.
These are all wonderful initiatives. In addition, I would like to work on new methods of communication. When I moved to Oak Park, I learned about the Library through the Book Bike (an amazing resource!) but I would like to explore how to expand our communication efforts.
I would be in favor of implementing a formal equity lens/framework at the Library. It would serve as an important reminder to consider the impact of Board actions and decision-making on underserved and underrepresented groups. Specifically, I would ensure that there is a process for continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of the framework and adapt the strategies accordingly.
The Library has incredible digital offerings, but I was unaware of them until very recently. I would like to explore new ways of communicating all that the Library has to offer to residents.