Meet Courtney
I love this city.
El Cerrito has been the anchor of my adult life.
It's where I celebrated my marriage at McBears and walked home carrying wedding pie from Fat Apples. This is the community where I became a stepparent, I knew my children were safe walking to school and where I am now teaching my oldest how to drive.
As a long-term tenant in El Cerrito, it is important to me that tenants, landlords and homeowners work together to make it possible for residents to stay and come to El Cerrito. I believe the strength of our community comes directly from our diversity. I believe in being a good neighbor, that good neighbors take care of and protect one another.
I'm an Art Conservator. I am a steward of family, local and national histories. I have conserved paper, photographs, and film at the National Archives and Records Administration, and the National Gallery of Art. My favorites are family photographs now that I work in a private studio. I enjoy talking to individuals about their memories and ancestors. I treat these objects with care and respect, much like I will treat our community. I am a lifelong learner, and I strive to keep an open mind. I believe in doing the research and looking at various sides before making decisions.
Community building is very important to me. When at the crossroads of getting more involved in professional organizations or prioritizing my community I chose El Cerrito.
Showing up for El Cerrito
I was appointed to the El Cerrito Arts and Culture Commission (ACC) in 2019. I saw the hard decisions that the City Council made to address the financial crisis over the years. The ACC was not immune to these decisions. With less staff capacity and limited financial resources we had to undergo a radical transformation as well.
The ACC modified how it identified success and our role in supporting community art. It focused on supporting programs and projects that were community driven. It resisted being used as a short term piggy bank and fought hard to ensure the ACC budget was being spent meaningfully and could support long term initiatives.
Over the last 5 years the ACC has supported 5 artists for the ECCRU Artist in residency at the El Cerrito Recycling Center. We have had the privilege of amplifying the voices of 3 Poet Laureates. The Utility Public Box Art Program engaged 9 artists from high school students to working professionals.
We have slowly and thoughtfully been ramping up ACC programming. This past year the ACC reinstated the second floor gallery art shows, launched an online database for EC Artists and Collectives, AND for the first time in 5 years October is Arts Month in El Cerrito.
I will continue to be a fiscally prudent hard working council member. I have the practice and experience from being a commissioner and the chair of the ACC. I will prioritize balancing long term financial sustainability while thoughtfully meeting the needs of our residents.
Community Building
During covid I created a safe space for step-parents to seek support as we navigated new family challenges and dynamics. I ensured that my fellow stepmomalas and popalas felt safe and established guidelines to protect privacy. During that time my backyard also became a safe space for our children and their friends to attend zoom “school” while social distancing.I have experience in organized labor, and will use it as a council member. I served as the Head Shop Steward for SEIU1021 at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. I represented my colleagues in a tough contract renegotiation and advocated for the membership through dogged bargaining with management.
I am excited to be attending the October Community Emergency Responcy Training (CERT) program, the first since Covid.
