2019 NLNA Board Election – RESULTS!
At the 2019 Election, Claire Adler was elected Vice-President; Janet Finegar was re-elected Secretary; Don Phillips and Barbara were re-elected to the Board at-large; and Jacek Ghosh, Renja Wasson, and Kevin Wilkins were newly elected as At-large Board members.
The 2019 Election Committee members are current Board member Avery Amaya, out-going Board member Monika Kreidie, Rick Angeli, Paula Gansky, and Sasi Judd.
Congratulations to the new and returning board members! And sincerest thanks for their service to the departing members who did not run forre-election: Barb Mulckhuyse (Vice President), Monika Kreidie, Aisha Loeks,and Ben Mann!
The annual NLNA election will be held at the General Meeting on Thursday, May 23rd, at 7:00 PM, at the NLNA Community Center at 3rd& Fairmount Streets. We will be electing Vice President, Secretary, and five at-large Board seats. All terms are for two years.To vote in NLNA elections you must be 18-years-of-age or older, must be a resident of Northern Liberties, or must own or operate a business in Northern Liberties, and you must be registered with the NLNA. If you have voted in NLNA elections in the past few years you are still registered. If not, you must register. If you are registering for the first time, please bring your driver’s license or other proof of residency such as your utility bill.
There will be a change to voting procedure at this election. Voters will sign for a ballot when they arrive, and will receive the ballot after the candidates have finished speaking. Votes will be counted at approximately 7:45.
Claire Adler is running for Vice President, and Janet Finegar* is running for Secretary. The candidates running for the five at-large Board seats are Amy Smith-Sweeney, Barbara Saverino*, Caitlin Antram, Don Phillips*, Jacek Ghosh, Kevin Wilkins, and Renya Wasson.An *asterisk indicates incumbency. Below are their statements.
Vice President
Claire Adler
In my first year on the board, I have co-founded the Communications & Marketing committee to ensure that the NLNA expands its reach to all residents. My aim over the next two years in the leadership position of Vice President is to work with my fellow board members and other dedicated volunteers to spearhead initiatives to expand outreach by learning about what all residents want out of their civic association.In addition to engaging residents in new ways through outreach, events, and programming, I am interested in issues of zoning and the built environment, and I work to advocate for what our neighborhood needs in those areas. I am excited about furthering my commitment to this board and to my neighborhood in hopes that we make it a place that is welcoming and engaging for all.•
Secretary
Janet Finegar
Hello neighbors! I've lived in Northern Liberties since the early 90s — long enough to have seen major changes in our neighborhood, many of which I welcome and have been a part of. I have been part of the Liberty Lands team since the beginning and continue to serve as one of the coordinators for the park and am also on the board of Orianna Hill Park and the Orkney Park project. I'm also part of the team for the Operation Santa program, the NLNA's Plant Sale, and the Quality of Life committee.Obviously, preservation of open space and keeping our neighborhood a great place to live are issues of prime importance to me, and I believe that the NLNA has been an essential part of making Northern Liberties great. My husband Jonathan and I run a small company in the neighborhood (North 2nd Street Developers) and our daughter Helen has grown up here. I've served on the Board most of the past 25 years as a member, one term as President, and most recently as Secretary and am proud of the work the Board has done in that time.
Board of Directors at-large (choose five)
Jacek Ghosh
I moved into Northern Liberties in September 2015 after purchasing a townhouse on N. American Street. My wife and I were excited to be able to purchase a home close to where we work in the city and we looked forward to becoming active and contributory members of the Northern Liberties community. We joined the NLNA and also became active in the Liberty Lands Park with my wife, Laura Siminoff, becoming the co-coordinator of the Liberty Lands Community Garden. I have been an active gardener and have worked with Janet Finegar on the community garden fence/sidewalk project. In addition, I am the past-President of our small homeowners’ association (HOA). In the four years living in Northern Liberties I have experienced many of the issues that the NLNA works on including neighborhood safety and security, package theft, adjacent development, potholes, obstructed streets and sidewalks. I have also experienced the satisfaction of living in our wonderful community--- a vibrant and diverse community, great shops and restaurants, proximity to the subway and, of course, the Parks. Currently, I work as the Director of Sustainable Education at Temple University. However, over the many years of my working life I have directed various community-based organizations, including community design centers and a community development corporation, in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. I am both a trained architect and a community organizer and have focused on issues of community economic development and disability design. More recently, before moving to Philadelphia, I developed a comprehensive environmental sustainability plan for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. I just helped complete the Temple University 2019 Climate Action Plan. While living in Cleveland Heights, I served on the City Planning Commission and I worked with our four Business Improvement Districts via the CDBG Advisory Committee.I understand the needs of residents and those of the small business community as well as community development. I believe I would be an asset to NLNA and to the community and would work for and understand the varied aspects of the entire community.•
Donald J. M. Phillips
I have spent three decades living in Northern Liberties. I guess you could say I like it here… I do. Over those thirty plus years I have witnessed a lot of changes; gaining new friends and neighbors, losing fine folk to gentrification, actually having food markets & restaurants you can walk to and seeing open spaces disappear. But some things don’t change. Such as the need to act collectively on quality of life issues, and making sure our voices are respected by city organizations.Our population has grown tremendously over that time and need to work out how to mobilize these new citizens of the neighborhood. These challenges will never disappear. That is why I have served on this board for twenty-six of the years I have lived here. That is why I am asking for your support now. Thank you.•
Renya Wasson
Ten years ago my husband took me to dinner in Northern Liberties for my birthday, and I have wanted to move here ever since. After I switched careers from an economics professor at Villanova University to a Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives at Camden City School District, we finally moved here last year. In order to get to know my neighbors and serve my new community, I volunteered for the 2nd Street Festival, participated in the NL branding and marketing initiative for residents, and attended Council President Darrel Clarke’s neighborhood meeting at Kearney Elementary. I am also actively involved in organizations that support positive change in Philadelphia such as the policy committee for the Philadelphia League of Women Voters and on the steering committee for Women in Nonprofit Leadership. As a member of the NLNA Board, I will apply my experience and professional network to help Northern Liberties build on all the exciting changes that drew my family to this wonderful neighborhood. Like many of you, we are dog owners, bike riders, and fans of brunch at local restaurants. I would be very excited to contribute to the Urban Design Committee and would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Finance & Administration and Zoning Committees. I would also make sure that the needs of long-term residents are carefully considered. When I walk around our neighborhood with visiting friends, it is easy to convince them that Northern Liberties is a wonderful place to live. I would like to do my part so that it is even better, for all residents, in another ten years.•
Caitlin Antram
Caitlin Antram is a 32-year-old theatre/cabaret artist and educator with a passion for civic and community engagement. In her 10 years in Philadelphia, she has lived in Fishtown, Passyunk Square, West Philly, and Point Breeze but is now thrilled to more permanently make her home in Northern Liberties where she resides with her partner, Josh (a home-owner on the 100 block of Brown St.) and their cat, Toast. Caitlin was born in Allentown, PA, grew up in Lock Haven, PA, graduated from IUP Cook Honors College and moved to Philadelphia in 2009 to be a theatre artist. She was a member of the inaugural class of Pig Iron Theater Company's School for Advanced Performance Training (APT) and went on to receive her MFA from UArts/Pig Iron's combined program in Dec 2016. Caitlin has performed in venues all over the city as a theatre artist, band vocalist, and burlesque host; she's has been involved in the collaborative creation of 7 original plays/musicals both in Philly and abroad and has served as resident host/chanteuse for Philly's premier neo-burlesque troupe, The Peek-a-boo Revue, since the Fall of 2013. In 2016 she formed a civic partnership with the Northeast Treatment Center's Evening Reporting Center, an alternative to out-of-home placement for adjudicated youth, where she teaches a weekly theater class with young men aged 14-19.Caitlin would be honored to join the board of the NLNA. She sees this as a ripe opportunity to better engage with her community and contribute her talents for active listening, collaboration, critical thinking, and communications. As an "old millennial" she is positioned to offer a mature perspective that is still representative of the age demographic that makes up 43% of the Northern Liberties population. She plans to stay in this beautiful, historic neighborhood to start a family and would love the chance to contribute to its healthful development.Thanks!•
Kevin Wilkins
After moving to Philadelphia approximately 16 years ago and reserving the 1styear to explore the city in an effort to decide where I wanted to call home, it turns out it was one of the easiest choices I’ve made. 15 years later, I still live in that very same home I purchased over on Randolph St in my most favorite neighborhoods; Northern Liberties. I absolutely love and thoroughly enjoy our City of Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection!!!Being from a smaller town in VA, I find it tremendously important to be kind, to support and to be friends with our neighbors, regardless if you live immediately beside me or live on the opposite side of the neighborhood, which is something I genuinely enjoy. Whether it’s helping an elderly neighbor with snow removal from their steps and sidewalk, baby or dog sitting, or helping someone in their house with their groceries, I’m always happy to help. And of course, for anyone that knows me, I’m a huge fan of clean streets; on most any given week you’ll find me out front sweeping Randolph Street and the sidewalks, thereabouts.Over the 15 years I’ve lived in NoLibs, I’ve attended and supported the Zoning Board meetings with Larry Freedman and his incredible board members, the Neighborhood Meet & Greet, general community meetings with Matt & other board members, the 2ndStreet Festival, and I’ve volunteered to pour some beers at The Liberty Lands Music Festival, too. And of course, I sincerely enjoy supporting Orkney Park.Being a Realtor, it goes without saying that I see a large range of neighborhoods and countless homes, and it’s without a doubt that my heart is right here in NoLibs.If elected, I would like to focus my efforts on helping where needed most, but with a specific interest on clean streets, liaising with PTSSD, Orianna Hill Dog Park, as well as the existing business community to build a larger base of local businesses that make our community stronger than it already is today.Thank you•
Barbara Saverino
Hello. I am running for re-election to the Board of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association because I love our community and want to make our neighborhood the best one in our city. This includes preserving and maintaining our public green spaces, making sure that the NLNA addresses the needs of long-tern residents as well as young families and newer residents. My professional background in the nonprofit sector has given me a diverse skill set including project management, advocacy, grant writing, event planning, and whatever needs to get done to complete the job. If elected for another term, I would like to continue efforts to create awareness and engagement in our community of NLNA.Thank you for your consideration.
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Amy Smith-Sweeney
My name is Amy Smith-Sweeney and I am very passionate about my neighborhood and the impact that the NLNA has on supporting sustainable growth. I have served as a Democratic Committeeperson and Majority Inspector for the 5th Ward for the past 8 years, because I believe that as more people become engaged with the electoral process, and are able to express their opinion through the ballot box, then our elected officials will be more accountable to their constituents. In my capacity as Majority Inspector, I make sure we have fair and transparent elections so that every citizen’s vote, regardless of party, is counted. I feel very strongly that people deserve to have the opportunity to have their voices heard.You might know me from Facebook, or maybe you saw me working the polls when you came out to vote. I should mention that I have a husband, 2 kids, a dog and a cat. So, I’m not picky about the company I keep. I’m active in my children’s public-school education. I have lived in Northern Liberties for over 19 years with my husband. I’ve volunteered for many events to better serve my community, including 2nd Street Festival, Liberty Lands, Plant Sale, community-clean ups, etc.I have a zeal for public service and have no problem rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty to get a job done. I am deeply engaged with my community and I have experience with fundraising, organizing events, and generally helping on any big project.
Thank you and good luck to all,
from the members of the Election Committee!
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