Connecticut Civic Ambassadors are everyday people who care about and engage others in their communities by creating opportunities for civic participation that strengthens our state’s "civic health."
Elizabeth wanted to be a part of something that builds communities – a place where ideals don’t have to compromised – a career steeped in social service, so she is building her career as an employee of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT. "Libraries are community organizations based in learning and empowerment," says Elizabeth, "I believe that this is the foundation of all the good things in society." Elizabeth is currently the Associate Director, Community Engagement at the Ferguson Library where she develops and oversees programs and services that unite the community. She also manages the Stamford small business resource center and is the lead organizer of Stamford 1 Million cups, a monthly program developed by the Kauffman Foundation that connects entrepreneurs to the larger community.
When asked about her vision for Democracy, she noted, "That's when there is true equity in access to basic human rights – food, education, employment and a green planet. Democracy is also a world in which to quote Dr. King, “when a man is judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin.” I believe Democracy is when we dismantle the mass incarceration system and when we open the borders of this country to let those in who are fleeing from violence and extreme poverty. Democracy is when my voice and my vote counts just as much as someone else’s."
Elizabeth lives and works by the wisdom of Dolores Huerta – “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.”
Elizabeth has been a Civic Ambassador since the program launched in 2017 and was a panelist in the 2018 Civic Summit.