Since 2007, My husband, our children, and I have called Hyattsville “home.” I am a music teacher and school administrator for a private, independent high school in Washington, DC and my husband who was formerly active duty US Navy now is a reservist and federal employee. We have lived, played, worked, volunteered and gone to school in Hyattsville over the past eighteen years and feel very fortunate to have discovered the loving, welcoming community that is Hyattsville. Part of what makes Hyattsville a great place to live is the energy, kindness, and generosity of its people. As a family, service to our country and community is important to us and as a councilmember, I am trying to do my part in continuing that legacy for the future of Hyattsville.

I have been an educator for over a decade, and can bring my background of knowledge of education to the council. I have taught many of your children right here in Hyattsville and children from Prince George’s county. Teaching and performing music hasn’t just introduced me to my neighbors or given me a glimpse in how the county school system works; it has required me to practice patience, empathy, and problem-solving: all skills that are needed to cooperate with the 10 other people on the dais and connect with the people of ward 2.

Skills I bring to council:

• Completed a certificate in Excellence in Local Governance through the University of Maryland and the Maryland Municipal League.
• Background in education, supporting our city schools via the Education Advisory Committee
• Years studying Spanish as part of both of my degrees, reaching out to Spanish-speaking neighbors
• Social media and marketing experience from my current role as an school administrator
• Experience researching how to connect with others culturally, being able to build community between people of different backgrounds through my Master’s studies in ethnomusicology
• Leadership in community building through my work heading the neighborhood watch for over 10 years
• Experience with city government and current issues through my work on the council and the city’s Police and Public Safety Citizens Advisory Committee, Education Advisory Committee

Since moving to Hyattsville, I have served the community in a number of ways, including:

• Served as Vice-chair and now serve council liaison on Hyattsville’s Police and Public Safety Citizens’ Advisory Committee
• Heading Hyattsville’s longest-running neighborhood watch as captain, which partners with the police department’s CAT-team and community partners like Hyattsville Aging in Place
• Started and administered a babysitting co-op in the city
• Launched a local early childhood music program
• Donated time to my children’s school to remodel classrooms and served as treasurer of the board that initiated a Montessori preschool program
• Writing for and serving on the board of the Hyattsville Life & Times
• Coached T-ball with my husband at Driskell Park
• Communicated with city staff to replace the gate at King Park (tot lot)

Picture above: Emily with Robert Croslin and other members of the Police and Public Safety Committee.