Name: Carla Ferris

What is your ANC and SMD?
ANC 4E04

What is the best way for constituents to contact you?
carlaferrisanc4e04@gmail.com

Introduction
I am a mom of three, the owner of a small business, and an elementary school teacher with DCPS.

What's a hobby or something fun that you are interested in?
In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my kids, hiking, gardening, jogging, and volunteering for my children’s schools.

What are your qualifications?
I have experience building consensus among diverse groups of stakeholders, and I am a strong communicator. As a teacher and a parent, I always ground myself in listening and collaboration.

What are the ANC meetings?
ANC 4E is a new ANC, and to my knowledge the meeting schedule has not yet been set.

Are you going to hold SMD meetings?
I intend to alternate virtual and in-person monthly meetings to ensure that residents of the SMD have a variety of options for engagement. Meeting locations and times will be crafted based around feedback from constituents, and may shift in response to needs and concerns. Meeting information will be announced and promoted via fliers, social media, and an SMD website.

Do you attend other meetings?
My focus as a teacher and a parent has been on school related meetings and committees, including attending SBOE meetings and PCSB meetings.

Carla’s Priorities
My main priority is to ensure that information is being shared effectively across my SMD. As a busy person, I firmly believe that civic engagement should be made as easy and transparent as possible. I want my neighbors to know what is going on in the neighborhood, and for them to have opportunities to make their voices heard on the issues that matter to them.

Our most important neighborhood issues vary from block to block. We won’t all have the same wants and needs, and not every desire will be met. While not all favored outcomes can always be accommodated, engagement is the key to a vibrant and cohesive neighborhood. When people feel blocked out of the process, the natural results are frustration, mistrust, and even apathy. Strong communication and continually inviting people into the process is, in my view, the most important role for an ANC member. I hope to fill that role for my SMD.

Editor’s Note: All content is directly from the candidates with only minor edits for simple typographical issues. All photos are from the candidates. No endorsement is implied by these articles — hopefully you learn more about the people who want to represent you. Please vote!

Featured

Sep 1, 2016

Resident hit by car at Grant Circle reinforces need for greater pedestrian safety

Sep 1, 2016

Unfortunately, a Petworth resident and teacher at EL Haynes was struck by a car on Tuesday morning on Grant Circle. While she's ok, the collision once again points out the need for greater efforts by DDOT and ANC 4C to find a workable solution for pedestrian, bicycle and driver safety along the corridor. An ANC that votes against options for safety, such as those outlined in DDOT's Livability Survey draft recommendations, is not just short-sighted, it's dangerous.

Sep 1, 2016