I have taken that into consideration but I think someone has to rattle for the group not just the powers that be. Recently I have been told I rattle the wrong cages. They have spoken in front of Council and they are about to get a stop sign that is the first step towards saving pedestrian lives. Their mission is: Demand Safer Driving is a coalition of residents who have come together to demand safer streets in the town of Herndon by working with local government to find actionable, creative and courageous solutions to the dangerous driving that has become all too common in the Town. I helped to create some structure and expand communication of their work and they have now created Demand Safer Driving in Herndon. Recently someone sent two frustrated Spring Street residents to me after yet another a car flipped over on someone’s lawn. Neighbors being neighborly caring about where we live and doing something about it! In an age where people struggle to treat one another well when they disagree-especially online-this group is a source of pride. More than 500 members engage in lively, civil conversation about Town issues, weigh in on issues, and learn how and where to get involved. The community carried the night and the downtown redevelopment project was approved The Neighbors for Downtown Herndon Redevelopment is still paying attention to Town issues and our downtown. Through good communication of process and how people could get involved, residents showed up (it was come-as-you-are-some with their babies in strollers, others in their hockey gear) to testify to their reasons they didn’t want the downtown project stopped. Their argument included the loss of the stepped parapet on the top of the former Stohlman Subaru dealership on Elden and the loss of a crepe myrtle near ArtSpace. Three property owners filed appeals against the project, citing concerns related to the development’s impact on traffic and inconsistencies with heritage preservation guidelines, including density increases above standards laid out by the town. Probably most publically, in 2018 I started Neighbors for Downtown Herndon Redevelopment. Learned there was a 40+ person waiting list for a warm coat and started working on a now annual middle school coat drive for the Herndon Middle School clothing pantry with Grace Hill Church. I got an unsolicited email from a frustrated teacher and helped get the cafétorium lights turned back on at Herndon Elementary. Here are some examples of this in action: Once I got involved, I realized the town needs the skills I consider my super powers community engagement, facilitation of productive conversations and getting projects-even stalled ones-finished. This is special when you get to live in a place like this, you have to contribute and be a good neighbor. It has street lights and sidewalks and you can get to know your neighbors. It was not planned and put up-it evolved. I chose to live in Herndon because it is a living breathing neighborhood. This group continues their work under the guidance of Supervisor Alcorn. This ground breaking group worked hard to become the first county in the country to made DEI hiring practices codified policy.
The Fairfax County SCYPT, or School-Aged Child and Youth Policy Team.The purpose of the council is to be a catalyzing force for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information and resources related to issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Fairfax County. I am actively involved in Leadership Fairfax, currently on Steering Committee for the Youth Leadership Network, which is an initiative of Fairfax County, led by Leadership Fairfax and The Equity Council, bringing together over 20 leaders in the fields of racial and social equity, business, community service, academia, and government. By teaming up, sharing networks and resources we are all able to do better –using the community assets and what the community is asking for-and accomplish more. This is a capacity amplifier for all of the organizations, businesses, and government working in our community. I serve/have served on town and county-level committees, including the new Herndon Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (HDEIC) Leadership Committee for Opportunity Neighborhoods.
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