Get to know Karen Livingston (4C06 candidate)
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Name: Karen Livingston
What is your ANC and SMD?
ANC 4C06, Rock Creek Church Road to Varnum to 8th Street to Taylor
What is the best way for constituents to contact you?
karen4c06@gmail.com
Introduction
I have lived in DC since 2003, and my husband and I bought our Petworth rowhouse in 2009. I moved to DC for work and stayed because I love being a part of this city. I treasure the friendships I’ve formed with my neighbors and the annual block party we’ve maintained over the years.
I also appreciate the incredible patchwork of communities, big and small, that make up my DC life. These include the familiar faces I run into each day at the local businesses where I frequently shop, eat, attend events, and exercise.
What's a hobby or something fun that you are interested in?
I love exploring DC neighborhoods on foot or by bicycle, participating in community events, and seeing the range of performing arts happening across the city. On any given day, you’ll find me taking neighborhood walks, going for a run, working on my front yard garden, or hitting the heavy bag in my garage.
What are your qualifications?
I love living in the District, and I want to help foster and drive a shared vision for the city. The District has undergone significant, transformative change in the nearly two decades since I moved here. As a long-time federal employee, I’ve developed an intuitive understanding of how government works and how to get things done.
I understand from experience that advancing cross-cutting goals requires effective collaboration, building trust and lasting relationships, and consistently delivering results. While I am excited by overall trends in the District, not every community and neighborhood has benefited the same way or at the same pace from these changes. Government and the ANC have a responsibility for ensuring people have a voice in the process. I am committed to creating an environment where constructive, and sometimes difficult, conversations can happen and goals get accomplished.
What are the ANC meetings?
The ANC meets every month on the second Wednesday at 7pm the Petworth Library (4200 Kansas Avenue, NW) and virtually through WebEx. You can access the schedule and meeting link online: https://anc.dc.gov/event/4c-public-meeting-september-14-webex. This is the schedule through the end of the 2022 calendar year.
Are you going to hold SMD meetings?
My goal is to keep my SMD informed of new and ongoing developments and creating a space for residents to share their concerns and ask questions. Never one to have a meeting for meeting’s sake, I expect I may use a few different approaches, whether virtual, online, or in-person, depending on the purpose or need. I look forward to the advice and recommendations from other ANC Commissioners on what has worked well for them.
Do you attend other meetings?
Karen’s Priorities
As Commissioner, my immediate priority would be to connect residents with the information, resources, and support they need to address the issues impacting their quality of life in the neighborhood. My priorities are to ensure a values-driven approach to the wide range of intersecting issues tied a city undergoing significant growth. Those values include equity and social justice, responsible environmental stewardship, inclusive community participation, and integrity and transparency. I would be an advocate for smart street and community design, finding opportunities to create affordable housing, and encouraging economic development that contributes value to the community.
I appreciate great community resources like Petworth News!
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!
