biography

​​Married with 2 sons, one grandchild
Current President of The Historic Harrisburg Community Council
Docent and Founder, The Harrisburg Community Garden/Harrisburg Honey Cooperative
​Cofounder of the Veterans Peace Park in Harrisburg
Founder and Editor of 
Harrisburg/Laney Walker Communities Newsletter
Former Secretary and Member at Large,
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Augusta
Former President of The Harrisburg West End
Neighborhood Association
​
Experience
Planning Commissioner, representing District 1
Candidate for County Commission 2012 and 2016
Transit Citizens Advisory Board
Masters in Health Education,
Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy
​Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Volunteer Coach, Girls on the Run
Coordinator, Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Build
Community in Schools Volunteer, Tubman Education Center
Secretary, C.T. Walker Elementary School
Member, John Milledge Elementary School PTA
Local consultant, Community Service Program
Local participant, Good Urbanism 101
Certified Beekeeper
Harrisburg Walk 4 Health
(unarmed) Neighborhood Watch Volunteer
Humane Society Volunteer
Member of the Georgia Citizens' Coalition on Hunger
Awarded WHO'S WHO Among Students in American Universities & Colleges - 1985
Picture
Denice Traina during a clean up at Lake Olmstead.

commitment 

​As a resident of Augusta for over 20 years  I have had the pleasure of experiencing what a close and supportive community of neighbors is really like. 
I meet many of my neighbors while gardening and during those conversations I realize that Augusta has come a long way but that many people feel left out when it comes to moving us forward to reach our highest potential.
Most folks realize that we are the second largest City in Georgia but they wonder why we don’t have a more expansive public transit system so that more people might be able to have access to jobs and public services or to pursue their education in order to move up in life. They want to be able to move freely downtown for recreation and special events and the truth is so do visitors to the Garden City.
Also affordable housing opportunities are quite limited and the dream of home ownership is just that ... a dream. I would love to see programs like Turn Back the Block expanded so that more families would see that dream be realized.
Another universal issue of importance is public safety. 

Moving Augusta Forward!
I believe that Augusta is poised to better meet the needs of our residents, inviting tourism and economic development but that vigilance is necessary in order to protect the best interests of our community.
When we seize upon opportunities to bring clean, living wage jobs to Augusta along with a more accessible means of transportation ALL Augustans will reap the benefits. Every Augustan should demand the basics from local government as well as expect it to respond to viable solutions for a more vibrant future.
We want our children and grandchildren to be gainfully employed right here in Augusta and when we possess the willingness to work collaboratively with our partners in education, business and housing we can make that a reality.