Moderator:
Becky Tillson, Strategic Project Manager, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer - City of Portland, Oregon
Panelists:
Stephen Williams, Director of Health and Human Services, City of Huston, TX
Stephen L. Williams serves as the Director for the Houston Health Department (HHD), a full-service public health department with 1100+ employees and overseeing a $139 million budget. Stephen is actively involved in Public Health issues at the local, state, and national levels. Under Stephen's leadership, HHD has become more visible, and the citizens of Houston have been afforded a better quality of life. He has spear-headed the implementation and institution of several programs in HHD. Stephen chairs the Texas Department of State Health Services Public Health Funding and Policy Committee, the Coalition of the Homeless of Houston/ Harris County and is an Adjunct Professor at the UT School Public Health. Prior to serving as the Health Director, he also served as Administrator of Public Health and Deputy Director of Austin. Travis County Health and Human Services Department.
Karen Moe, Director of Neighborhood and Community Relations, City of Minneapolis, MI
Since October 2022, Karen Moe has served as the Director of the Neighborhood and Community Relations (NCR) department for the City of Minneapolis. Previously, Karen served as the Deputy Director of NCR and as the Coordinator for Community Engagement and Grants for the City’s Regulatory Services department. Karen came to the City from Community Action, where she served as the Deputy Director of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership and two years as Director of Program Operations of Community Action Partnership of Suburban Hennepin. Neighborhood and Community Relations connect the community to the City and the City to the community. NCR does this by engaging underrepresented communities, supporting the City’s network of neighborhood organizations, ensuring access to City services for all residents, and specifically for residents with disabilities or limited English proficiency and through the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. NCR believes when residents are informed, connected to their community and feel represented in City government, they are empowered to influence decisions that impact their lives.
Originally from Chicago, Karen got her bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature from Earlham College. She returned to Chicago and worked there for roughly fifteen years for various organizations and associations. She moved to Minnesota to complete her graduate study at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Tyler Bonanno-Curley, Deputy City Manager, City of Long Beach, CA
Dr. Tyler Bonanno-Curley manages the Government Affairs Team in the City Manager's Office in addition to overseeing strategic communications and coordinating federal and state legislative policies on behalf of the City. Dr. Tyler has worked in public service for several years in Long Beach. After graduating with a Ph.D. in Political Science & International Relations from the University of Southern California, Tyler served as Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia's Legislative Deputy, helping to promote economic development and international trade in the city. He was later selected to be Chief of Staff for Long Beach's 1st District Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Council office and the legislative process. Most recently, Tyler has served in the California State Senate as Legislative Director/Policy Liaison for Senator Lena Gonzalez, managing the Senator's legislative priorities and communication between the Capitol and District offices.