Special Interim Election for recently vacated seat on the NLNA Board of Directors – Dec 6
7pm at the NLNA Community Center(3rd & Fairmount)Along with the Meeting Agenda, there will be an interim election for one recently vacated seat on the NLNA Board of Directors at the December General Meeting. The term for a Board member is two years, and this seat will be up for re-election in May.To vote in this or any NLNA election you must be 18-years-of-age or older, must be a resident or own or operate a business in Northern Liberties, and you must be registered to vote in NLNA elections. If you have voted in NLNA elections in the past few years, you are still registered. If you are not registered, or if you are new to Northern Liberties pleasebring your driver’s license or utility bill with your Northern Liberties addressto the meeting.
There are four candidates running for this seat. Their statements are below.
Renya Reed WassonI am a newcomer to Northern Liberties, and I am excited to get to know my neighbors. Everywhere I have lived, I have volunteered on neighborhood boards – primarily for organizations focused on education. I recently switched positions from Economics Professor at Villanova to Senior Manager Strategic Initiatives for the Camden City School District. To facilitate this switch, in 2017 I earned a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in economic development and nonprofit management. On a personal note, my husband and I have three college-aged children who are thrilled to visit us in our new neighborhood. Like many of you, we are dog owners, bike riders, and fans of brunch at local restaurants. Potential projects that especially interest me include: providing effective support for our homeless community members, planning for new murals and pocket parks, recruiting more retail shops, and coordinating efforts with other organizations such as City Council and the Delaware River Waterfront Cooperation. Aisha Loeks
India Nixon-LyonI have been a NoLibs resident for 6 months now, after my husband, 2 dogs, and cat drove across the country from Santa Fe, NM last May to move to our new home. About 2 years ago we decided we wanted to be closer to our families who live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We visited Philly last summer for a few days on our honeymoon and absolutely loved the rich history, friendly people, great food, and diverse neighborhoods. We narrowed down what neighborhoods we wanted to live in and Northern Liberties quickly won out due to Liberty Lands Park, Orianna Hill Park, and the many restaurants and shops that are in easy walking distance. It’s been a real joy getting to know the neighborhood, residents, history and future plans of a place we plan to call home for a long time to come. Being from the South originally (Geaux Tigers) I’m a huge fan of hospitality, neighborliness, and creating vibrant events that pull from the talent in our community. I’d like to serve on the NLNA Board of Directors so that I can work with existing members to bring to life long envisioned goals, include long-term residents in future planning, and contribute to a neighborhood that continues to attract new residents and businesses. I am a small business owner, operating two businesses, a wife, a dog and cat mom, a lover of ice cream, and it would be my honor to serve you on the NLNA Board of Directors. Jacek GhoshI 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 President of our small homeowners’ association (HOA). In the three years living in NL 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 and continue that work at Temple University. 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 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.
Thank you and good luck to all,
from the members of the Election Committee!
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