Born and raised in the City of Rochester, I am proud to announce that I am running for one of the At-Large City Council seats. Growing up, my family experienced all the great things that this city had to offer. We owned a corner grocery store that was much more than a store, it was a place where neighbors gathered. My father was the first Latino City of Rochester Building Inspector. My mother worked for Kodak for thirty-six years. We were raised to appreciate our community and do our part to make it a better place. That is the value I uphold today and will continue to practice as a City Councilmember.
My message is simple and empowering, “Promote and Implement Community-Driven Government”. I am a strong believer and practitioner of community input and engagement at the decision-making tables. As a resident of Rochester, I am an avid community volunteer and social advocate. Currently, I serve as the Chair for the Charles House Neighbors, located in the Josana neighborhood. I was the former Chair of the City’s Sector 3. I am a past committee member for the Lyell-Otis Association and for NIMROD (Neighbors In Motion Rooting Out Drugs). I also work closely with RCSD School #17. In this relationship, I was instrumental in piloting School #17 to utilize a shared governance model that was inclusive of the community. School #17 did so well, that it became a Community School model that is being replicated in other schools.
History tells us, and I have personally experienced, that when the community is involved at all levels of decision-making, there is greater ownership and better results. Sadly, we are in times when confusion seems to permeate. It is time that the community is engaged at all levels. Rochester is a GREAT city with GREAT residents. Together, we can accomplish GREAT things.
