NLNA GENERAL MEETING & 2023 Interim Board Election

The NLNA will hold an interim Board Election during the General Meeting on Wednesday, September 27th at 7:00 pm, at the Northern Liberties Community Center at 700 N 3rd Street. You may attend this meeting in-person or via zoom. 

NLNA General Meeting Agenda:

7:00 – 7:15 PM (15 min)

Northern Liberties Leadership Award presented to Steve Richmond

7:15 – 7:30 PM (15 min)

NLNA Fall Interim Election – We will hear from our two candidates (for two board seats) and then have a group vote.

7:30 – 7:50 PM (20 min)

Brandon Pousley – CEO of Glitter

Glitter is a weekly block cleaning service that keeps litter and trash off your streets, sidewalks, and storm drains. Our pay-what-you-can model brings neighbors together to fund weekly cleaning. Founded in 2021, we're proud to be cleaning nearly 300 blocks every week with the support of nearly 1,000 Philadelphia neighbors and businesses. Sign-up today at www.ShareGlitter.com

7:50 - 8:00 PM (10 min)

Northern Liberties Community Survey Fall 2023 Kick-Off

NLNA 2023 Fall Interim Election:

We will be electing two candidates to fill two at-large Board seats that were vacated mid-term. 

• Their terms will expire at the May 2024 Board election when they will be eligible to run again.

• The two candidates running to fill those two seats are Margot O’Neil and Steve Westcott.

• We will have the opportunity to hear and ask questions of the candidates.

Note: As these two candidates are running unopposed, we will not have a formal election. Instead, we will ask for a show of hands vote at the end of their presentations.

Reminder:  Members of the NLNA Board of Directors are volunteers, as are all members of all NLNA Committees.

Candidate Statements:

Stephen Westcott:

Hello neighbors! I've lived in Philadelphia for the past twelve years and decided to buy a home in Northern Liberties almost six years ago to be close to my family. I'm fortunate to have a brother, sister, and cousin who all live within a two-block radius. I'm someone who enjoys and appreciates all the perks of living in our neighborhood and fostering good relationships with neighbors. I spend a lot of time each week walking around the neighborhood with my wife and our 11-year-old Frenchie so I have a vested interest in the safety and cleanliness of the neighborhood. I would like to be a part of the NLNA board to help contribute to better and safer conditions for everyone. I believe that simple things like better marked crosswalks, signage, increased lighting, trash cans, etc. contribute to a better quality of life when you walk out your front door. I am excited for the opportunity to jump in and see where I can help create positive change for the community by pushing forward these types of initiatives.

I started my career in Philadelphia in public accounting and obtained my CPA license soon after. For the last ten years I've worked for an engineering consulting firm and serve as their Controller. My career experience in finance has taught me that attention to detail and organizational skills are important when trying to work towards your end goals and achieve success. Persistence, communication, and patience are key elements when collaborating with others to achieve positive outcomes. I try to be especially mindful to not overlook the small wins and progress you've made when you feel like a project or task is overwhelming. I aim to carry this same attitude as a part of the NLNA board to help better our neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration.

Margot O’Neil:

My husband and I are raising three children in the neighborhood - Gus (6yo), Rose (4yo), and Walter (1.5 yo), as well as an emotionally complex dog - Buster (10). 

We truly love this neighborhood and are committed to finding ways to support it and help it grow as the neighborhood continues to evolve. 

My professional background started as a management consultant and now has me leading digital and advanced analytics teams for a global BioTech company. When not chasing kids or at the office, you can typically find me cheering on the University of Michigan or University of Notre Dame in any/all of their sporting events as an alum of both schools. 

One thing I learned from both universities I attended was the importance of creating a sense of community, fostering that community, and giving back to that community.

I want to give back to Northern Liberties, as this neighborhood has given me some of my very closest friends today and I want to help provide that to others. If it’s helping to renovate a playground for the children of the neighborhood to give them a place to congregate and meet, or starting the “Northern Liberties Parents” Facebook group to bring together 1,200+ parents in the neighborhood, my mission to create more communities within Northern Liberties, building on those that already exist! There are so many more micro-communities we could create within this neighborhood, providing a true sense of belonging to many more.  I’m passionate about helping facilitate these connection points for members of this neighborhood, which is why I’m running for a position on the NLNA Board.  Thank you for your consideration!