Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has taken the first steps to address Burlington’s public safety concerns with the formation of a group of community safety advisors.
The group of community leaders met for the first time on May 21 to initiate the project. The team will serve in an advisory role to the mayor and city staff on safety approaches and provide expertise and recommendations for short- and long-term solutions. Mulvaney-Stanak will retain final decision-making on all ideas raised within the group.
In a statement announcing the team members, Mulvaney-Stanak said the group’s goal is to ensure the city’s approach to community safety reflects residents’ needs, values and priorities.
“Improving community safety is a top priority for my administration. We will work to break down silos to create a comprehensive system built on collaboration to efficiently and effectively serve the residents of Burlington,” said Mulvaney-Stanak in the May 28 statement.
Who are the community safety advisors?
The team of community safety advisors consists of:
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Al Gobeille – Gobeille brings experience as a longtime Burlington business owner and former secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services. Gobeille represents the Burlington Business Association.
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Ali Dieng – Dieng is a community builder and former Burlington city councilor.
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Brent Demers – Demers works at City Market Downtown and is a member of the co-op’s safety team.
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Drukhshan Farhad – Farhad is a program officer at the Vermont Afghan Alliance.
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Rev. Elissa Johnk – Johnk is a faith leader from Burlington currently serving as a senior pastor at the United Congregational Church.
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Major Ingrid Jonas (ret.) – Jonas was the first commander of the Vermont State Police’s Office of Fair and Impartial Policing and Community Affairs. Jonas was the first woman to reach the rank of commander within the VSP.
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Jeff McKee – McKee is the CEO of Community Health Centers of Burlington.
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jess kirby – Kirby brings years of professional experience in harm reduction and currently serves as the Director of Client Services at Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform.
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Jill Martin Diaz – Martin Diaz is a practicing attorney and executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project.
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Kathrynn Titus – Titus is director of operations at Cathedral Square.
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Kathy Vos – Fox has years of experience as a teacher and researcher focused on criminal justice reform. Fox recently retired from the University of Vermont, where she co-founded the Justice Research Initiative.
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Melo Grant – Grant represents Burlington’s Downtown and Old North End on the City Council. Grant previously served as Burlington’s police chief and as a member of the special committee that reviewed police policies.
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Michael Monte – Monte is the CEO of Champlain Housing Trust and former director of Burlington Community and Economic Development Office.
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Mikey Van Gulden – Van Gulden is the owner of Chocolate Thunder Security.
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Nathan Virag – Virag is an immigration attorney with the Association for Africans Living in Vermont (AALV).
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Paul Decelles – Decelles is a former Burlington City Council member and currently works with the Howard Center Street Outreach Team.
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Peter Hiskes – Hiskes is senior director of retail at Outdoor Gear Exchange.
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Selene Colburn – Colburn is a former Vermont state representative and currently serves as co-director of the Vermont Council on Domestic Violence.
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Shabnam Nolan – Nolan is the Executive Director of the King Street Youth Center.
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Steve Murray – Murray is the executive director of Burlington Housing Authority.
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Dr. Tess Morrison – Dr. Morrison is a resident of the University of Vermont Medical Center and a member of CIR/SEIU, a national union representing interns and residents.
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Tim Doherty – Doherty represents the East District of Burlington and brings experience as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont.
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Victor Prussia – Prussack is the engagement director for the Burlington School District.
The group consists of two high school students who have not been named.
Sydney P. Hakes is Burlington’s city reporter. Contact her at SHakes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington VT Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak names community safety advisors
