ABOUT LINDA
Linda’s diverse background and experiences will allow her to approach planning for the city from many different perspectives.
Education and Certifications:
Linda has a Bachelor’s degree in Organization Development and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management/Computer Science. Linda is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Process Improvement consultant.
Entrepreneur and Business Process Improvement
Linda’s background includes business process and organization development consulting/training as the CEO/Principal Consultant of The Word Applied, Inc . She is experienced in human-centered design, community engagement strategies and capacity building services. Linda has also consulted with educational institutions, government agencies, corporations, foundations, grassroots organizations, and for profit and non-profit entities. These skills transfer well to the legislative and policy making work of the city council.
Linda is also the designer and owner of GmaGear.com a clothing and accessories line for women who are “definitely NOT grandma as usual.” And the published author of the book “Seeing In the Spirit Understanding the Battle.”
Community Engagement
For Linda, community engagement has always been a priority. With this passion, Linda developed the Center for Intersectional Leadership (or CIL). CIL was created for individual leaders and non-profit organizations to pool their voices, experiences, expertise and talents in an intersectional way to protect and promote the rights of marginalized communities in Minnesota.
Public Policy Engagement ~ Community Leadership
Linda has been involved in public policy engagement and community leadership for over 25+ years. Linda has always worked in a bipartisan way in her public policy roles.
- Current board member of 360 Communities
- Current local and national legislative tracking
- Former candidate for MN House of Representatives SD57A
- Former Regatta Manor Townhome Association President
- Former Neighborhood Development Alliance Board (which builds affordable, sustainable housing)
- Former Westside Citizens Organization Board (which acts as the planning council for the city of Saint Paul District 3)
- Former Neighborhood House Board member
- Former MN Women’s Foundation Board member
- Former TURN Leadership Board member
- Community Equity Pipeline alumni
- Nexus Board and Commission Leadership alumni
- Former MN Academic Excellence Foundation Board member
- Former St. Paul Mayor’s Public Safety Advisory Council member
- Former Umbrella Rule Advisory Cmte for DHS and Dept of Corrections member
- Former Restorative Justice Youth and Family Committee member
- Former Juvenile Justice Programming, Evaluation and Planning member
- Former Saint Paul Public Schools Racial Harassment Policy Cmte member
- Former Saint Paul Public School Sibling Preference Policy Cmte member
- Former Minnesota State University, Student Association Board of Directors
- Former University of St. Thomas, Center for Business Excellence (CBE) – mini MBA instructor
Life, family and humble beginnings
Linda came from humble beginnings. Growing up in New York City in a family with limited income, Linda was determined not to let this define her future. So when she was accepted to an all-girls Catholic High School, she worked after school and weekends to pay the monthly tuition.
Linda married and had two children. She attended New York University and received her Associates in Applied Science degree from New York University (Business Management/Computer Science), while pregnant with her second child.
Linda and her family moved to Minnesota in 1986. After a divorce, she became a single mother, raising her son and daughter. While raising her children, Linda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree (Organization Development and Training), all while working to pay for her education.
Linda’s two adult children have made her the proud grandmother of nine grandchildren. And Linda calls herself a “Gma” because she definitely doesn’t look or act like a grandmother.
