1/4/23, 6:13 PM Mail - Damien O'Bid - Outlook
https://outlook.office.com/mail/id/AAMkAGNiMTRhYzI3LWFiYzQtNGQzZC1hNWFjLTEyMDJhOTJiZTEwMABGAAAAAAATIKDb00pAT7to2LRyTViwB… 1/1 Continuum of Care Letter of Interest
Laura Sparks <[email protected]>
Tue 1/3/2023 1:35 PM
To: Damien O'Bid <[email protected]>
Good Afternoon,
Please accept this notice of my interest in serving as the Alternate for the joint Rohnert Park/Cotati seat of the Continuum of Care Board of Directors. At the Cotati City Council meeting of Jan. 11, 2022, the council discussed and approved an approach to the CoC appointment whereby the cities of Rohnert Park and Cotati would aim to alternate which city’s representative was serving as lead and as alternate every two years, with flexibility if both cities mutually desired to deviate from this pattern. Since John Moore of the Cotati City Council has been serving most recently, it would be my preference to follow the guidelines we agreed to previously by selecting a Rohnert Park councilmember to serve as lead and a Cotati councilmember to serve as alternate. In the unlikely event that there is no other letter of interest received to be the primary representative, I would be willing to serve as the lead although it would not be my preference.
I have a strong interest and track record of speaking up for the most vulnerable in our community, and I am not afraid to challenge the status quo nor to advocate for change when I see a way that a system could be improved.
In my professional life, I have seen the impacts of homelessness and housing insecurity first hand on the SRJC student population. I have lived experience of housing insecurity during several periods of my life in which I was one emergency or illness away from being unable to pay my rent, and I have tremendous compassion for those who find themselves unhoused. I have a passion for gaining a deep, evidence-based understanding of complex systems, and finding practical and compassionate solutions that will produce real results and improve people’s lives. I have followed developments related to serving the unhoused in our community closely during the past two years of my council term, including attending the Rohnert Park Homelessness Roundtable when possible and diligently reading all the related meeting materials. I am ready and willing increase my involvement by serving as an alternate on the CoC board.
Thank you for your consideration,
Laura Sparks
City of Cotati | Vice Mayor
Phone: 707-792-4600 x194
Email: [email protected]
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