My vision for El Paso and motivation to run for City Council is to encourage people to be more involved in their community and help them understand how to get involved in their neighborhood. In my nearly 20 years of government, non-profit, and business leadership, I’ve seen how El Paso has flourished when we invest in our natural resources, embrace collaboration, and foster public-private partnerships. I’ve also seen how missing out on these opportunities leads to delayed projects, revenue losses, and stalled progress. To me, progress is action. Let’s work together to be proactive with economic development opportunities and responsible with community investment.
I was born and raised in El Paso and engaged in community service and leadership from an early age. My grandfathers served in WWII, while my grandmothers volunteered and led community initiatives, including helping elect the first Mexican American to the Texas legislature. My mother is a retired bilingual educator and my father is a retired customs broker and former neighborhood association president. Ever since I can remember, my family encouraged civic engagement and taught me to be involved in my community. I am married to Brandon Silverstein, and we have two rescue dogs, Rufus and Smuckers.
My desire to use activism and voluntarism to create positive change started in high school at Loretto Academy and was further shaped in college. As a UTEP student I, along with other student leaders, protested ASARCO’s presence so close to school grounds and testified before the TECQ Commission to advocate for its removal. I also served in the UTEP SGA for four years and as VP External, I proposed a higher education policy to the UT Board of Regents that would save students tuition money if they graduated within 4 years. The policy was then adopted by the university system.
After graduation I worked for our Texas Senate Office for six years, working my way up from intern to Chief of Staff. As Chief of Staff for Senator Eliot Shapleigh, I navigated the needs of public office, oversaw solar energy projects and the creation of policies for higher education, had fiscal oversight of the office’s budget, promoted eco-tourism with The Rattler Outdoor Challenge, and sought justice for teachers and students being silenced in the EPISD corruption scandal.
Through my work at Loretto Academy and the El Paso Zoological Society, I gained incomparable insight into the operations of non-profits and how public-private partnerships greatly enhance the capacities of organizations to responsibly and efficiently utilize bond and grant monies. I have the experience and leadership necessary to coordinate multiple stakeholders and be proactive with implementing new policies, utilizing budgets, and communicating with transparency. As a businesswoman in tech, I oversee projects for clients of all sizes and sectors. I’m skilled in directing people and projects, managing budgets, meeting deadlines, and communicating between clients and internal teams.
Over the course of my career, I have engaged in advocacy for the people of El Paso and the local businesses that support our economy. And I am a strong advocate for mental health funding in our community. I am a member of the Junior League of El Paso, Inc. and an advisory committee member of the Women’s Business Border Center. Previously, I served as a board member of the El Paso Leadership Academy, a board member of Progress321, and a mentor for the Loretto Academy Challenge Program. I believe El Paso is an amazing city, with tremendous opportunities for progress and growth. I want to work with the wonderful people who call El Paso home to help continue the momentum of economic development and increase transparency and communication between the City and the people.
Women in Business Advisory Council Member, 2011 - Present
Endowment Committee Member, Christmas Fair Merchant Chair, Christmas Fair Admin Chair, Training and Education Committee Member, Board and Council, 2021-2022
Nominating Chair, The Village PR Chair, Diversity, Inclusion, Equality, and Belonging Committee Member; JLEP Member, 2015 - Present
Founder, 2022
El Paso Everywhere Chair, 2021
Member, 2019 - Present
Challenge Program Scholarship Mentor, 2011 - 2018
Board Member, 2015
United Way Young Leaders Society - President (2012), Vice President (2011), Board Member, 2009 - 2013
Power of the Purse Co-Chair, 2019
Commissioner Dist. 2 Representative 2007 - 2009
The commission recommended solutions to council on how to improve international commerce and ease of transportation for commuters. This commission has been dissolved and is now a City Department.
2008-2010
Inaugural Class 2019 - 2020
2017 - Present
Historian
The University of Texas at El Paso, 2008
Louder Than Ten, 2019