Annual Meeting Recap — Board Update!

Apr 17

Thanks to all who attended our 2023 Annual Meeting on Tuesday! If you missed the meeting, a recording is available here.

We had a good turnout and appreciate all who chose to share a beautiful spring night with us. Special thanks to our speakers, including Council Member Lisa Goodman, Mayor Jacob Frey, MPRB's Meg Forney & Elizabeth Shaffer and MPD's Insp. Katie Blackwell & Crime Prevention Specialist Jennifer Waisanen. Extra special thanks to Isles Bun & Coffee, Kowalski's Market and Lunds & Byerlys for their generous, delicious donations!

East Isles has filled its seven Board vacancies!

New & Returning Board Members

Jonathan Beck

Quinton Courts

Julia Edelman

Henry LaBounta

Shanti Mittra

Dan Sutton

Ellen van Iwaarden

Background
East Isles homeowner
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
To help East Isles continue to be a great place to live.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
10 year homeowner in East Isles.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Built Environment & Transportation
Background
East Isles homeowner, Board member since Apr. 2022
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I am a current board member and neighbor. I volunteered to run last year because I care about the neighborhood and city in which I live and participation in EINA is a way to support the vitality of both.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I have served as secretary for EINA for the 2022-2023. In addition to volunteering for this position, I have supported my fellow board members with same-day setup of a few of our events and I have participated in the Outreach and Engagement and Community Safety Committees. Prior to my current employment, I spent 12 years serving diverse communities in urban school districts as a bilingual teacher and principal in Philadelphia, Houston, and Dallas.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Outreach & Engagement
Background
East Isles homeowner, Board member since Apr. 2021
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
EINA is a nice adjunct to my mental health work. This work is really important, and if I can be a tiny part of it, I’m happy to do so.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
My early careers were in advertising and journalism; I was the previous publisher and editor of The Phoenix Spirit newspaper and wrote parenting columns for various publications. A midlife career switch has me enjoying private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Outreach & Engagement
Background
East Isles homeowner, Board member since Jan. 2023
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I would like to help improve our community and have enjoyed meeting with the board and green team.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
My focus has been on trash in our community, especially in Lake of the Isles. I think we can make a difference together.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), Green Team
Background
East Isles homeowner, Board Vice President since Apr. 2022
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
With its great connection to the lakes and the city, my family and I have enjoyed living in East Isles for over 20 years, but recent years have certainly been hard. I stopped feeling like we could walk to catch a movie or a bite to eat in Uptown, or that I knew how my neighbors were doing because we didn't see them as much. In 2022, I decided it was time to do more than just see the losses, and so I ran for a seat on the East Isles Neighborhood Association. I've served on the Executive Committee as Vice President, worked on bringing back longtime social events, helped start new initiatives such as the East Isles Safety Walking Club and chair the newly formed Community Safety Committee. If reelected, I'd like to use my time on the board to continue the common thread that weaves through this past year's work — helping us feel a little more reconnected and comfortable in our neighborhood.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
Professionally I have always worked with entrepreneurs, and have finance, accounting and fundraising skills. I have also served as a Block Captain for the past 5 years and will work with the Community Safety Committee (not listed below) to help build out an East Isles Block Captain Program.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Green Team
Background
East Isles homeowner
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
To help restore the safety and vitality of our uniquely mixed-use community in which I had the good fortune to raise my family.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
A successful small-business owner with a strong track record in identifying shared interests and facilitating alignment in large organizations.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP)
Background
East Isles homeowner
What has inspired you to run for the Board of Directors?
I love our neighborhood and want to help our community stay active, inclusive, and strong.
What unique skills or experiences will you bring to the Board?
I'm currently the Chair of the neighborhood's Green Team and I enjoy organizing neighborhood events. I'm also a lawyer and retired nonprofit leader.
Which Committees would you be interested in serving on?
Green Team

Cuyler Dinegan cdinegan.com