I am a proven problem solver who has cultivated positive relationships with citizens, as well as in government, academia and with non-profits in order to fully understand and tackle some of our city’s most pressing problems.
I’ve also been able to use my skills as a paralegal, grant writer, fundraiser, and community organizer to find sorely needed resources for the 6th Ward, such as home repairs for our senior citizens, veterans and disabled residents; back to school events; and funding for parks and financial empowerment for our neighbors. I have partnered with ward schools and small businesses to bring in needed programming.
As a progressive Democrat, I have always been a passionate advocate for the city. Since moving to the 6th Ward I have served the community as a volunteer for the Gate District East Neighborhood Association, then for the Sixth Ward Democratic Organization and finally, for the past two and a half years, working alongside Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, as the director of Community Outreach.
I was responsible for managing community revitalization and stabilization efforts in our area, with a focus on serving and empowering low-income residents. I regularly sought out the community’s input to ensure I was proactively working on issues of importance to them. I have worked on real solutions to prevent our children from turning to crime and to ensure current criminals know we take their offenses seriously.
I wrote a grant that created the 6th Ward Youth Development Program, a comprehensive program which provides life skills/job skills training, mental health services and part-time employment to teens living in public housing. Since we are all responsible for the health of our communities, I am working to establish a Neighborhood Accountability Board. This board is panel of residents, sanctioned by the juvenile court, who will work with minor juvenile offenders towards restorative justice and healing for victims and offenders.
I worked with several 6th Ward neighborhoods to implement the Neighborhood Ownership Model. This model engages residents in mobile patrols, victim support, drafting neighborhood impact statements and attending court hearings. According to the Circuit Attorney’s Office, criminals target those places where they are least likely to get caught, and when citizens support the police, prosecutors and courts, the conviction rate is nearly 100 percent.
As a lifelong city resident now raising my own family in the Gate District, I have a great stake in ensuring the success of our city. I am energized and committed to our community and possess the skills necessary to work with the wide variety of people and organizations it will take to affect real change.
Christine Ingrassia is a candidate for 6th Ward alderman on the March 5 ballot.
