A Problem Solver with a Servant’s Heart
I have always believed that using my time and talent to empower others is my true purpose, which I learned from my parents. My father was a Vietnam Veteran who volunteered to go back into the jungle to rescue lost soldiers. He put himself in harms way and was awarded a medal for his bravery. However, winning a medal was not what motivated him, it was being of service to his fellow soldiers.
My mother was a waitress who worked long hours serving customers. She would come home late at night, tired to the bone, but she still found it important to kneel on the side of her bed and pray as I would stand in the doorway watching with admiration and love.
My parents taught me that family, community, life… it’s all bigger than me, and that there’s something much higher than me. My parents taught me that the value of my life is also measured by the lives of the other people whom I impact. As such, I have spent my entire life working to improve the lives of those around me by using my skills to solve community problems. Community Service is not simply attended meetings for organizations and listing them on your resume. Community Service is spending your time and talent empowering those around you. It’s rolling up your sleeves, solving community problems and helping those who cannot do anything for you in return. As small as buying groceries for a stranger or as large as developing a program addressing systemic community problems, I believe in direct action.
I’ve served on community boards in leadership positions and I’m proud of the changes and policy directives that I brought through those positions. However, what I’m most proud of is the time I’ve spent working with groups, individuals and organizations impacting the lives of people directly… the lives of people in my community. Being “of service” means volunteering my leadership, developing trainings, programs or providing advocacy in support of others, especially the less-advantaged. I believe people simply need resources and opportunities that enable them to uplift themselves.
The true value of being a servant-leader is knowing that the impact made on one person’s life can affect a lifetime of generations.
In the 1990’s, when I came to Denton County, I volunteered with the school districts as a surrogate parent during Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings for students whose parents could not attend. I learned how important it is for parents and their students with disabilities to have a well-developed Individual Education Plan (IEP). The problem was that many parents didn’t have the flexibility to take off work or to even understand how the process worked. A well developed IEP helps prevent children with disabilities from falling through the cracks in the academic system, and can even mitigate criminal exposure and the school-to-prison pipeline. Helping these families provided them with the opportunity for their child to access a free and appropriate education.
As an attorney I often see people who need access to legal information so that they can make informed decisions and/or need the tools to represent themselves because they can’t afford representation. In response to that community need, I’ve created a multitude of free trainings and programs allowing Denton County residents to learn without fear or concern for cost. One such Denton County program I developed is the Pro Se Divorce Clinic. This program allows indigent residents to represent themselves in family-law matters making their lives and their families safer at no cost.
I saw the need for parents to be educated regarding social media, sexual harassment at school, and preventing abusive peer relationships. Again, I used my knowledge and experience to fill that community need by presenting at schools, community groups, and broadcasting expert advice to our community through my Access to Justice community television show. I serve my community through information, free and empowering, to benefit families.
I’ve developed programs with students and senior citizens, bringing together the groups to mutual benefit. One of my favorite community events that we do is to fund and host an annual New Year’s party at the Lewisville senior apartments. I know that the holidays are a lonely time for that population and bringing food, companionship, laughter and joy to them is my reward in this community.
Moving forward, what I think is important, is how my education, knowledge and experience will enable me to be the best Commissioner of Precinct 3. It’s simple, I’m a problem solver, with a servant’s heart. I intend to bring that same solution-oriented approach working for the community on a larger scale.
I’ve developed and am implementing a safety initiative to combat sex trafficking in our community called Project Be SAAFE (Safety Against Attacks for Everyone) and have also created the foundation for a community task force to address the school-to-prison pipeline that we have as a result of the lack of mental health providers.
As a lawyer trained in economics I understand that COVID-19 will have a comprehensive impact on our health and economy and I’ve considered ways in which we can address and mitigate those problems. I understand that without a vision to protect our environment, we will perish, so I will advocate for a green economic growth policy.
When people question whether or not I’ve been working in the community, because they don’t know of the organizations where I’ve volunteered, it is because my work is solving community problems, not resume building.
Nonetheless, in addition to the above examples, I’d like to offer a partial list of my community work and the organizations in which I’ve served.
BOARDS, COMMITTEES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
Board of Directors President, Denton County Child Protective Services
Board of Directors 2nd Vice President, Denton County Friends of the Family
Board of Directors, Denton Black Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors, North Texas Legal Services
Diversity Committee Member, Lewisville Independent School District
Communities in School Volunteer, Denton ISD and Lewisville ISD.
Mentor and Program Developer for “at-risk” students, Lewisville ISD
Surrogate Parent Volunteer for Special Ed and Section 504 students, Lewisville ISD
Committee Member, State Bar of Texas, Crime Victims’ Committee
Volunteer Mediator, Denton Bar Association.
Advisor to Lambda Chi Epsilon, North Central Texas College
Member Book Review Committee for Criminal Justice Dept., North Central Texas College
Chair, Women’s Symposium, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated
Regional and National Award Winner, Lewisville Community Programs
“Sugarless Friday” Diabetes awareness campaign
“How to turn a $1 into a $1.50” Economic Development program
Member, Concerned Citizens and African American Parents of Lewisville ISD
Community Connect Founder, COVID-19 Response information network
Program Director, Facebook Live, Denton County Precinct 3 programs
“How to deal with depression while quarantined”
“How to teach your dyslexic child at home”
Member at large: Lewisville Leadership Class of 2000, Lewisville Chamber of Commerce, Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce, Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce, Main and Mill Street Business Association, West Side Baptist church
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS
- Developed and implemented Speech and Debate program for at-risk elementary students to teach critical thinking, reasoning, and communication skills. Philosophy is to encourage and employ effective communication to reduce violence in their community.
- Created free, bimonthly community legal education seminars with the Denton County District Court Library educating citizens about legal issues and empowering better personal decisions.
- Created Pro Se Divorce Clinic helping low-income persons to have access to the justice system. This program taught indigent people how to represent themselves so that they did not have to retain an attorney.
TRAININGS AND PRESENTATIONS TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY
“In Search of Wonder Woman” speaker for Lewisville Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Development.
Developed and conducted “ENOUGH” training for Texas Woman’s University recognizing and mitigating abusive relationships.
Developed and conducted free “Suddenly Senior Seminar” life documents training for Senior Citizens at Lewisville Senior Center
Developed and conducted “sexual harassment, awareness, choices and self-esteem” training for Fifth Grade girls in Lewisville ISD
Developed and conducted “Social Media-What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You” training for Lewisville ISD middle school students
Developed and conducted “Protecting Your Tween from Abusive Peer Relationships” training for Lewisville ISD Parent Teacher Association
Developed and conducted training for Head Start of Greater Dallas regarding Grand Parent’s legal rights for indigent grandparents and caretakers of children needed access to information
Developed and conducted “How to Make Your Business Blow-Up” training for Denton Black Chamber of Commerce emphasizing the historically underutilized business designation
Developed and conducted “How To Hire Who You Want” training for Texas Small Business Institute concerning
Being a problem solver, with a servant’s heart, combined with my education, talent, and experience, I will address issues and fight to improve this community to make our neighbors, homes, and families stronger.