What does it mean to love our Midtown neighborhood?
I think loving Midtown means being involved — contributing in big or small ways — particularly when your involvement doesn’t directly impact you. Too often — and especially when it comes to civic engagement — community members only become interested when they are angry or are trying to address a problem that explicitly impacts them or their property. Engagement to change or fix something isn’t wrong or harmful; however, I feel that people who genuinely desire to contribute to their community volunteer and give even when it doesn’t provide a tangible or immediate improvement. To me, despite the lack of immediate gain, contributing to helping make the community a better place for all defines what it means to love your neighborhood.
What unique qualities do you offer that will continue the positive growth and work of MNA?
I offer several qualities that will help MNA continue its positive growth and work:
1. I believe in the power of teams and the strength of collaboration. The definition of leadership isn’t about being the boss or having authority; leading is bringing people together to identify problems, overcome challenges, and invite others to grow and expand.
2. I embrace change. Change is constant; fighting change is often a futile exercise. I’m always ready and willing to ask, “is this still the best way to do something?” or “how can
we make this better?”
3. I’ve got a solid background in film production and IT, as well as many years of experience developing and leading teams, and I’m always looking for ways to use technology to solve problems. I’d love to contribute these skills towards helping MNA achieve its goals.
How are you a good Midtown neighbor today?
Since purchasing a home in Midtown in the summer of 2020, I’ve made it a point to participate in the community actively. I attend as many MNA meetings as possible and the monthly NPU-E meetings. As a current MNA board member, I try my best to attend as many MNA events as possible and encourage others in my network to attend and contribute. Being an informed community member helps me be aware of what is happening in the community and allows me to keep friends and neighbors informed. I’ve been very impressed with the level of engagement and professionalism I’ve seen from the MNA, and I’d love to continue contributing.
Where would you like to see progress in our community?
While this seems like an idealistic goal, I’d love to see more Midtown neighbors involved in the community and be willing to consider all the opinions regarding improving our neighborhood. Too many people leave involvement and engagement for others. The more people who take an active role in the community, the more we’ll have diverse opinions, and the less the workload will be for the engaged few.