Burlington Mayor Forms Advisory Board

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has taken the first steps to address Burlington’s public safety concerns with the formation of a group of community safety advisors.

The group of community leaders met for the first time on May 21 to put the project into action. The team will play an advisory role to the mayor and city staff on security approaches and provide expertise and recommendations for immediate and long-term solutions. Mulvaney-Stanak will retain final decision-making on any ideas that arise within the group.

In a statement announcing the team members, Mulvaney-Stanak said the group’s goal is to ensure the city’s approach to community safety reflects the needs, values ​​and priorities of residents.

“Improving community safety is a top priority for my administration. We will work to break down silos and create a comprehensive system based on collaboration to efficiently and effectively serve Burlington residents,” Mulvaney-Stanak said in the statement released May 28.

Who are the community safety advisors?

The team of community safety advisors includes:

• Al Gobeille – Gobeille brings experience as a longtime business owner in Burlington and former secretary of the Vermont Human Services Agency. Gobeille is representing the Burlington Business Association.

• Ali Dieng – Dieng is a community builder and former Burlington city councilman.

• Brent Demers- Demers works at City Market Downtown and is a member of the co-op’s security team.

• Drukhshan Farhad – Farhad is a program officer for the Afghan Alliance of Vermont.

• Reverend Elissa Johnk – Johnk is a religious leader from Burlington who currently serves as a senior minister in the United Congregational Church.

• Major Ingrid Jonas (retired) – Jonas was the first commander of the Vermont State Police’s Office of Fair and Impartial Policing and Community Affairs. Jonas was the first woman to reach the rank of commander of the VSP.

• Jeff McKee – McKee is the CEO of Burlington Community Health Centers.

• Jess Kirby- Kirby brings years of professional experience in harm reduction, currently working as director of client services at Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform.

• Jill Martin Diaz – Martin Diaz is an attorney and executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project.

• Kathrynn Tito – Titus is the director of operations at Cathedral Square.

• Kathy Fox – Fox has years of experience as an educator and researcher focused on criminal justice reform. Fox recently retired from the University of Vermont, where he co-created the Justice Research Initiative.

• Mel Grant – Grant represents downtown and Burlington’s Old North End on the City Council. Grant previously served as Burlington’s police commissioner and as a member of the special committee to review policing policies.

• Miguel Monte – Monte is the CEO of Champlain Housing Trust and former director of the Burlington Community and Economic Development Office.

• Mikey Van Gulden – Van Gulden is the owner of Chocolate Thunder Security.

• Nathan Virag – Virag is an immigration attorney at the Association for Africans Living in Vermont (AALV).

• Paulo Decelles – Decelles is a former Burlington city councilor and currently works with the Howard Center Street Outreach Team.

• Pedro Hiskes – Hiskes is the senior director of retail sales at Outdoor Gear Exchange.

• Selene Colburn – Colburn is a former Vermont state representative and currently serves as co-director of the Vermont Domestic Violence Council.

• Shabnam Nolan – Nolan is the executive director of the King Street Youth Center.

• Steve Murray- Murray is the executive director of the Burlington Housing Authority.

• Dr. Dr. Morrison is a resident at the University of Vermont Medical Center and a member of CIR/SEIU, a national union representing interns and residents.

• Tim Doherty – Doherty represents the Eastern District of Burlington and brings experience as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont.

• Victor Prussaco – Prussack is the director of engagement for the Burlington School District.

The group includes two high school students who have not been identified.

Sydney P. Hakes is Burlington’s city reporter. Contact her at SHAkes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press: Burlington VT Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak Appoints Community Safety Advisors