MY STORY
I am a 23-year resident of Franklin, WI. My parents built our Briarwood home in 1964 when I was a toddler. After leaving for a few decades, I returned in 2015. Today, my husband and I are owners of a part-time psychotherapy practice, I am an award-winning adjunct faculty member at UW-Milwaukee, a family caregiver, and a former high school civics teacher. From my time as a youth in the Franklin Public Schools and Sacred Hearts Church (now St. Martins of Tours) and throughout my professional life, my experience in community service and leadership has been ongoing:
GROWING UP IN FRANKLIN
Commitment to community service was instilled in me by the Franklin Public Schools, Sacred Hearts Church (now St. Martin of Tours) and my parents. My parents were involved in the church youth development council and they enlisted my entire family to perform weekly in the church folk choir. I wrote and directed Easter pageants and became the president of the church youth group. I’m a Franklin High School graduate who participated and served on various extra-curricular ventures, wrote an independent student newspaper, and served as the 1980 student council president and as a Franklin (planning) Library Board member. I had many teachers who were wonderful mentors, including Mary Ptacek, with whom I am still in contact with today!
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
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Milwaukee Public Schools – Union Representative, Forensics Coach, Student Advocacy Advisor, Curriculum-Integrated Theater Specialist, Community Video Production
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Award-winning Performance Artist
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Governance Council, Riverwest
Neighborhood Association -
Block Club Leader, Gordon Park South
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Instructor, National Mental Health First Aid Program
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Cofounder & Board Member: Milwaukee Area Time Exchange
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Cofounder & Board Member: Wright Street Resource Center
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Cofounder& Board Member: Illinois Vipassana Center
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UWM Counseling Student Association Officer
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UWM Trauma Studies Association Faculty Advisor
EDUCATION:
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Bachelor’s Degree, Arts and Sciences, Long Island University
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Certificate in Secondary Education, Social Studies, UW-Milwaukee
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Master’s Degree, Educational Psychology, UW-Milwaukee
EMPLOYMENT:
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Milwaukee Public Theater
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Walker’s Point Community Clinic
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Sebastian Family Psychology Practice
FRANKLIN LEADERSHIP:
Shortly after my return to Franklin, I began attending Franklin City Council meetings. Neighbors and I shared concerns about the development of large meat processing plant in an area of Franklin that was primarily residential, as well as environmentally sensitive. Our involvement led to on-going advocacy to preserve farmland and environmental corridors in compliance with our Comprehensive Plan. In the spring of 2022, neighbors invited me to run for Alderperson for Franklin's 1st District. Although we lost the race by 23 votes, our successes have made us hopeful that Franklin is growing in readiness to elect new voices to public officials who are compliant with local and state ordinances, and responsive to public input on decisions that effect our environment and quality of life. I thoroughly enjoyed campaigning in my hometown. I look forward to meeting neighbors throughout Franklin, Muskego and Greendale in the coming months. Working with you, and for you as Representative of Wisconsin 82nd Assembly District will be a tremendous honor.
