It is truly an honor and pleasure to be elected the president of the Museum District Association. I thank my neighbors for their support, as well as our incoming MDA board. The MDA is a tremendous organization and I would be remiss if I did not thank our outgoing president Stephen Versen for his leadership over the last two years. I am excited to be the next steward of the MDA. During my tenure I hope to make some small, positive impact to our neighborhood, and, by extension, the City of Richmond. The MDA will continue to focus on our neighborhood schools, conscientious development and community engagement.
While I have had the opportunity to meet many of you, I hope to meet everyone who is involved in the MDA, as well as those who are invested in the betterment of our neighborhood. The Museum District is my home, in the city I love. I adopted Richmond as my home eight years ago. After graduating from the University of Virginia, I attended law school at the College of William & Mary. Upon graduation, I joined the Richmond City Attorney’s Office. For three years, I defended the City and its officers in all civil lawsuits. I have since transitioned to private practice, to the law firm of Ogletree Deakins, where I counsel and advise employers on federal and state employment laws.
I have been a resident of the Museum District for the last five years. It is without question the best place to live in the city. From our walkable streets, varied businesses, excellent restaurants and incredible museums, there is nowhere else I would rather live. It is my love for our neighborhood that inspired me to become more involved in the MDA.
This past year I served as the chair of the Land Use and Zoning Committee. The Museum District is a dynamic neighborhood. Our zoning allows us to review and consider development that often requires special use permits and variances. In this way, while development is in high demand — especially denser residential — our neighborhood association has the ability to weigh in and make our recommendations to the City Council on almost every new project. The MDA will continue to engage developers in a transparent process, provide feedback and advise the City on the comments and concerns of our residents.
In addition to the MDA’s popular and historical events — Spring Fling, Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour and National Night Out — be on the lookout for more young professional happy hours, member recruitment events and volunteer opportunities with our schools. These community socials have been a tremendous success and foster a stronger neighborhood by bringing us together more often.
I invite you to reach out to me and say hello. I want to be a resource for you and assist you in whatever capacity I can as president of the MDA. I am so inspired by all the great work of the MDA board and look forward to carrying on that tradition over the next year. I hope to meet each and every one of you soon!