Summary

Experience in technical writing, photography, emergency medical response, computer technology, and website design/maintenance. Editor/publisher of several newspapers and newsletters. My teaching experience includes a State of California Teaching Certificate.

Joined the neighborhood in 1999 and began looking for ways to reinvest my skills to help improve the quality of life of the community. Now active in health/safety awareness, emergency preparedness, and communication at the grass roots level.

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, FrontPage, and Visio, Adobe FrameMaker, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat Distiller, Dreamweaver, and Paint Shop Pro

Experience

• Worked with the Red Cross to train community groups in disaster preparedness. This core of trainers merged into a focus group for what is now the One East Palo Alto (OEPA) Neighborhood Improvement Initiative (NII).
• Created the vision for the NII Public Safety work group, then became charter member of the OEPA Governing Board. The work group accomplished serveral objectives:
• Created a model for change for the 2500 block of Fordam Street
• Facilitated the installation of the first speed bumps on city streets
• Represented OEPA at city festivals with an information booth
• Created public safety day activities in collaboration with the Police Department, Fire Department, and health agencies
• Attended City Council meetings and reported the results at a time when the community was not getting any feedback. This led to the creation of an email distribution list that includes about 100 representatives of non-profit organizations and City officials. Major topics included garage conversions, supermarket initiative, redevelopment, environmental issues, budget and public safety study sessions.
• Petitioned to have City Council minutes posted in the Public Library, and City Ordinances published on the City web site.
• Provided feedback that helped to shape the design of the EPA.net community web site. Became the most frequent volunteer contributor of news, meeting minutes, and photographs. This gave me the privilege of administrative rights to parts of the OEPA subsite to post and manage content.
• Created an Emergency Preparedness Resources web page to bring attention to critical issues such as Pandemic Flu.
• Regularly attended Gardens Neighborhood Assn. meetings. Led a campaign to clean up the abandoned gas station at the Pulgas Street gateway, and maintain the landscaping. Participated in National Night Out public safety awareness events.
• Taught three academic quarters of Math for Electronics at San Jose Community College. Taught boating safety for United States Power Squadrons for ten years and earned an Excellence in Teaching Award twice at the district level.
• Earned a Technician-class Amateur Radio (ham) license to assist in community emergency response.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, Menlo Park Fire Protection District.