Election 2013 Candidate: Rachel Weaver Rivera

Name: Rachel Weaver Rivera

Position Sought: La Grange Park Library Trustee

Campaign Contact Information:

websites:
www.imagineartstudio.com
www.throughplay.com
email:
imagineartstudio@sbcglobal.net

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?: I will serve and support the La Grange Park Library in its role of providing high quality resources, programming, and culturally-enriching opportunities to members of all ages in this community.

Family Members:

Guillermo Rivera, husband (age 44)
Hadley Weaver Rivera, daughter (age 9)
Guillermo Weaver Rivera, son (age 7)

Education:

University of Michigan,1993 -Masters of Art
University of Illinois,1991 -Bachelors of Art

Current Occupation and Employer:

Union Church of Hinsdale Early Childhood Program,
Teacher, Art Specialist, Professional Development Coordinator
Imagine Art Studio,
Founder/Owner
ThroughPlay,
Co-Founder

Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Why are you seeking office?: I am running for Library Board Trustee because I believe the library is a center of culture in La Grange Park. Professionally and personally, I have seen firsthand how the library has inspired community residents’ intellectual lives. I will serve the library to help further develop, share, and preserve our community treasure with generations to come.

What sets you apart from the other candidates (if applicable)?: As a member of the Library Board, I will bring my past experiences developing creative learning opportunities for families, children, and educators to the table. I think outside the box and view most problems as possibilities. I am owner/founder of a small business that provides arts educational programming across Chicago land. I have conducted hands-on workshops for The Hamill Family Play Zoo, The Garfield Park Conservatory, Evanston Center for the Arts, The Hyde Park Art Center, and others. I am a frequent presenter on children’s learning through the arts and have spoken at numerous early childhood conferences/agencies such as The Ounce of Prevention, Illinois Star Net, and Chicago Public Schools Early Childhood Program.

What are the other issues you plan to address in this position, and how?: As it has become more and more financially difficult for families to afford educational, social, and cultural enrichment, library programming has taken on greater significance. Summer reading programs for children support the school district’s efforts to keep skills sharp during vacation. Lectures, movies, and book clubs provide friend and fellowship opportunities for older generations. Teen programs engage young people by tapping into their unique interests and developing life-long learners. Everyone has a stake in the library. With shrinking local-government budgets, fiscal challenges, and society’s ever-growing reliance on technology and media, the stakes are high. I am proud to live in a town where the library is quick to mobilize in response to the educational, social, and cultural concerns of its residents. It would be an honor to serve on The Library Board of La Grange Park.

See also:

Election 2013: La Grange Park Public Library Board