Born and raised in Kanawha City in a home originally built for Libby Owens employees, I’m proud to be a graduate of the last class of Charleston High School and a West Virginia University Alum. I learned at an early age the importance of community and neighborly support. It’s been my pleasure and great fortune to have lived in several different states and traveled to various parts of the world. This offered immeasurable experiences from meeting and interacting with people from many different cultures and backgrounds.
The community and neighborly support is one of the main reasons my son, Zion, and I returned home to Charleston.
I have a passion for real estate and am currently a licensed real estate agent and property manager primarily focusing on commercial real estate in downtown Charleston. I attend meetings with Destination Downtown and largely support downtown living as a catalyst for revitalization. Also, an advocate for the Arts (and the importance it creates for growing a city) and a self-professed foodie, I am an active ArtWalk participant, FestivALL Board Member and Taste-of-All Chair.
Education and continual learning have been important to my family for generations. In fact, my Great Aunt Vada Smoot McGowan (who lived for 103 years) was an educator, principal and (while alive) was the oldest living graduate of West Virginia State University. In fact, she was the first person of color to teach in West Virginia’s integrated school system.
Mentoring and molding children is in my blood and my sincerest hope is to support programs to afford all Charleston children the opportunity to attain their goals.
My desire is to incorporate my experiences and learning to shape Charleston into a thriving city with destinations to attract others to our state and retain those who’ve grown up here. I’d appreciate your vote and input to make this a reality as I am a Democrat running for City Council At Large.
