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I am a housing advocate. When people have warm, safe homes that they can afford, our community is stronger- children grow up confident and secure, seniors can age in the same city they grew up in, and businesses can hire people.
Housing is just one of the many challenges we need to face as a community, however I believe every problem is solvable. We just need to work together, be strategic, and listen to one another.
ROLES I'VE PLAYED
I wear a few different hats in this community.
During the day, I work for the Brien Center as a Housing Coordinator - I support a number of people with mental health challenges throughout Berkshire County. The people I work with are able to live independently with support from our program.
By night, and weekend, and whenever I have a moment, I am helping to lead two housing initiatives in North Adams. NACHO, the North Adams Community Housing Organization,
where we are researching housing issues in North Adams, learning about ways other communities have improved their housing situations, and advocating for better housing in North Adams. Out of the work that we were doing in NACHO, we also started the Northern Berkshire Community Land Trust, which is a project that will be able to keep housing that is located on the land trust affordable for generations. Both of these are new undertakings, and I am hopeful we will be able to make some housing change!
In the past, I’ve also worked as an EMT at Northern Berkshire EMS, and I’ve volunteered at Roots Teen Center. Most recently, I just starting coaching gymnastics at Gemini Gymnastics one night a week, which has been a fun and exciting experience.
PERSONAL
I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Miami, FL. Growing up in Miami around so many different types of people really shaped my curiosity about other people, as well as my interest in history. My classmates and their families all came from different places for different reasons. My own parents are Jewish immigrants from Soviet Ukraine who left the Soviet Union at the same time as many others in their community.
After graduating high school, I came to Williams College, where I studied Economics and Arabic! This Miami girl was NOT prepared for Snowtober in 2011. I also wasn’t prepared to meet my now-husband, but you know how that goes. While at Williams, I started dating Cody Remillard, a fellow Williams student from Clarksburg, MA, and he’s put up with my constant shenanigans for nearly 10 years now, so you know he’s a keeper.
The two of us lived in the state of Florida for a bit, then North Carolina, and moved back three years ago. While North Adams is very different from where I grew up, I am so happy to be here, in this wonderful community that has welcomed me so fully. I believe that I have the thoughtfulness, energy, and inclination to dive deep into problems that will serve this community well.
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