Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and why would those contributions be valuable in the office you are seeking?

What motivates me to run for this position is the opportunity to serve my community. Berwyn is where I was raised and where I am raising my daughters. It has all the potential to keep growing and I would like to continue to take part in that growth. I want to be able to help those underserved, especially during unprecedented times like now, where folks are facing very challenging decisions and struggles. Before being elected to my current role as Berwyn Assessor, I have worked writing and creating policy for the City of Chicago and Cook County. While in office I have used everything I have learned to help hundreds of homeowners with their property taxes, organized community workshops like the annual pet clinic, free legal clinic, self-defense class, public safety survey seminar and college bound workshop and created programs such as the Eyes for Education, the Health Initiative Grant and the Children’s Wellness program.

2. When in the past have you had to balance competing interests? What process did you use? What did you learn?

As a member of the health district every four years we go over salaries for the new incoming elected officials. This past session, we faced salary cuts for all elected positions, and despite knowing that I would be cutting my own salary if elected, I voted to cut elected members salaries in order to be more fiscally responsible for taxpayers. I know that these resources are better used serving our residence and community.

3. What does transparency in government mean to you? How would you put it into practice?

Transparency in government needs to be accountable and accessible to the residence you represent. It is important that we use every tool possible to keep our community informed. As I did with the Township Assessor's office, I would have better communication through social media posts and traditional media, provide direct contact by creating an email list that would keep people updated with what is going on in the township and creating a user-friendly website where residents can access information from home. It’s also important to ensure that residents have access to our meetings, agendas, minutes and finances. In addition, this past year, I introduced anti-nepotism ordinances for further transparency in the township and I intend to make sure that ordinance is being enforced.

4. As more of our local discourse happens in social media, what is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents? How will you engage with the breadth of the community, and not only those on social media?

As an elected official I have used my assessor Facebook page to be accessible to residents, as well as using my email list to notify residents of important events, and Community outreach events. It’s also important to ensure that all information we provide is in Spanish to better serve Berwyn.  In addition to providing information on social media, I think it is important to use it as a platform for residents to give me feedback.  Social media is a way to have my ear to the ground and understand what people are feeling or needing in the community.  While this is not the only way to get feedback, it is particularly important during a pandemic. 

5. What barriers do you see for community members who wish to engage with Berwyn’s township government? How would you work to reduce or eliminate those barriers?

One of the big barriers I see is the language barrier.  It is important to have bicultural and bilingual information available to residents. I plan on having flyers, pamphlets, and forms available in Spanish. I would also ensure that our new website would be translated in Spanish as well.  

6. What do you feel are the most important issues facing Berwyn, and what steps can the Township take to address them?

The three biggest issues I see her in facing is the need for Community engagement, health services, and human services.

It's important in this age to have events to grow the feel of community, which is one reason I started Berwyn’s first Farmer’s market. I wanted to bring the community together and create a sense of belonging. I will also address health service by creating a wellness clinic that is accessible to all Berwyn residents, especially those underserved by our healthcare system. Thirdly, I will expand services that we already have such as general assistance and create new programs such as a senior resource center to better serve seniors.

7. How do you define equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking?

Racial equality means that everyone no matter race, religion, or gender are afforded the same opportunities. While recent events have fueled the discussions as of late, these conversations are not new to me. The disparity in our communities plays a big role in why I'm seeking this office. I want to close the gap in the lack of healthcare these communities receive. I plan on leading for all residents in our community.  

8. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing Berwyn in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process?

As an elected official it has been my top priority to make myself available to my constituents. I believe the best way to gather feedback is by having outreach events in public places, sending out emails, and having an up to day website all in Spanish and English to reach more residents. I have used surveys in the past to gather feedback from residents and used that information to create policy and programing. Most recently, I used a survey to gage 3,000 Berwyn residents and their desire and need for a COVID-19 vaccine.  The results of that survey were sent to Loyola hospital to support their outreach efforts. 

9. Name an influential Berwyn community member. How did this person’s influence change Berwyn? As an elected official, what do you imagine your influence will be on the community?

Shelly Titer, President of Berwyn Cares, a non for profit created to unite residents interested in renewing and sustaining an enthusiasm, interest and passion for the education system in Berwyn has been an influence in me as a leader. She brought awareness to education in our town by helping rally parents and residents to hold stakeholders, elected officials and board members, accountable. I hope to bring a similar passion and influence change and awareness to human service, healthcare and community engagement. 

10. Many Berwyn residents have expressed confusion about the disparate roles of the City and the Township, particularly in the past year as the importance of the Health Department has increased due to the pandemic. What steps would you take to increase the visibility and community awareness of the township’s mission and programs?

As a member of the Health Board, addressing disparities in health has been a priority for me. Some of the work I am most proud of as a community leader has helped address health disparities in Berwyn, including creating grant funding and a vision program for school aged children.  I would love an opportunity to continue this work by growing programs that exist through social media, traditional media and a website and by creating new programs. 

11. How would you evaluate the Health Department’s handling of the pandemic? What structural or oversight changes do you believe are necessary to improve the Department’s responsiveness to further crises?

 Previously, I proposed an idea to create a 1, 3, and 5 year health care plan to set us on a path to success. 

During this pandemic I ensured that our local food pantries had adequate PPP to keep their workers and volunteers safe while serving those in need.  But, I understand that we need more than just PPE that is how I am developing the idea for a wellness clinic could help address health disparities and would provide a framework for the continued response to COVID-19 as well as with future health pandemics.

12. As an elected official, what lessons will you draw from the experience of the pandemic about the purpose and role of government?

This pandemic has shown the importance of having strong leaders in critical positions that are prepared to deal with unexpected situations. We need creative problem solvers.  I believe having relationships with other federal, state and local elected officials is important for making government work more efficiently and cohesively, especially right now as we work to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine, making testing more widely available, and work to reopen schools in a safe manner. That is why I have effectively built this relationship and have been endorsed by elected officials at all levels of government.

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[The above answers were supplied on 2/22/21.]