My experience in community outreach and building meaningful connections comes from a variety of past positions and volunteer opportunities. My current position as a Community Engagement Liaison gives me the opportunity to continue to work with many of community members I worked while with the Minneapollis Police Department as well as creating new partnerships with the students, faculty, staff and visitors at the University of Minnesota. I enjoy working every day to try and build a strong and safe community as well as to encourage all visitors, students and employees at the U of MN to be an “active bystander” and participate with the Department of Public Safety to help reduce the opportunity for crime to happen. Other past experiences include: my involvement on the West St. Paul City Council, the Minnesota Chicano Latino Affairs Council, and the St. John Neumann Parish Council. These experiences have allowed me to build and demonstrate my leadership, customer service, community development, political advocacy and communication skills. The responsibilities with these groups have given me the experience in reviewing and interpreting proposed and current ordinances, charters, community development plans, budgets, and operating procedures.My experiences have allowed me to advocate and lobby at City, County and State Government levels. Areas of advocacy included: • domestic violence prevention and child abuse prevention• neighborhood crime prevention – public safety• economic and community development