Cynthia, James and Mary Brock 1969
Born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1967 and raised in Maui, Hawai’i, I was fortunate to grow up in a culture and community which embraced my multi-racial family. Hawai’i's natural beauty, beaches, parks, cultural diversity and family-focused quality of life has inspired and directed my perspectives about community participation, economic development, environmental preservation and progressive values. When I left home to attend college and “see the real world”, I quickly realized how truly unique and special my upbringing had been.
Interested in law and international development, I earned a Bachelors degree in Political Science from UCLA and a Masters degree from the American Graduate School of International Management. For several years thereafter I worked in the field of international finance and business development in Hawai’i, China and Connecticut.
My husband Ray Craib and I came to Ithaca in 2001 when Ray accepted a position at Cornell University. I soon became involved in civic life and worked to find ways to support community needs and interests. An at-home mother, I noticed a lack of opportunities for women to meet and get to know each other while they were caring for young children. Based on that experience I helped found the MOMs Club of Ithaca in 2002, and within 3 years our club grew to over 60 members with weekly activities, support networks and community service projects. As our children grew older, I supported our schools by serving as Treasurer for UCNS, Inc., a cooperative nursery school, and later as Treasurer and President of the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School PTA. From 2005-2007 I worked to coordinate BJM parents, staff, neighbors, GIAC staff and the ICSD Board of Education to redesign, fund, organize and build a new playground — removing blacktop, installing trees, grass and gardens, and incorporating dynamic play structures. Through my involvement with the BJM playground, I began researching the contamination issues in the neighboring property at Markles Flats. Committed to promoting the heath and welfare of our youth and neighborhoods, I actively advocated for the full remediation of the Markles Flats site by NYSEG and ICSD. After years of lawsuits between the City and ICSD, legal barriers to the remediation of the site have been removed and the environmental cleanup should begin shortly.
Encouraged to take my community commitment to the next level, I accepted an appointment to the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works and served from 2008 to 2010. I thoroughly enjoyed working with City staff and the community and actively participated in committees and working groups dedicated to the management of sidewalks, parks, land use, parking and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Throughout my years of community service I have been committed to developing and implementing positive improvements to the quality of life of Ithaca’s families and residents through proactive, open and collaborative processes.
Ray and I live on West Hill with my mother, our two children and our big red dog Rusty.
