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HART Welcomes New CEO Adelee Le Grand
The Hillsborough Area Re- gional Transit (HART) Board welcomed its new CEO Adelee Le Grand to the agency at the January 4, 2021 meeting.
"I'm super excited to be starting the New Year in this capacity," said Ms. Le Grand. "I just want to take a moment to say how gracious the residents of Hillsborough County have been. I've re- ceived so many kind notes from people I've never met, in- cluding people in City govern- ment. Through this exchange, I've learned that I am the first Black permanent CEO for HART. I'm excited and hon- ored not only to serve as the CEO, but to serve in this his- toric role. I look forward to moving forward with the team."
Ms. Le Grand was se- lected for the CEO position at the November 2, 2020 Board meeting, following a national search featuring more than 160 applicants.
"The HART Board is confi- dent Ms. Le Grand is the right person to lead the agency and create a long legacy of pro- viding the highest level of serv- ice equitably, and to openly drive Hillsborough County for- ward," said Commissioner
ADELEE LE GRAND New HART CEO welcomed on Monday
Mariella Smith, HART Chairwoman.
Ms. Le Grand has more than two decades of experi- ence, who is passionate about utilizing mobility as a tool to create and sustain vibrant eq- uitable communities. Her area of specialty is developing and communicating strategies into the implementation of busi- ness solutions and innova- tions.
Ms. Le Grand has served as a member of the executive team for two transit agencies. She has served as the Chief Mobility Officer for the At- lanta-region Transit Link Au- thority (ATL), working closely with the Executive Director
and Planning Division to de- velop a strategic plan to docu- ment the new state authority's suite of services and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders and regional partners.
She also served as the Chief Strategy Officer in service to the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, where her responsibilities included de- veloping the first Strategic Mo- bility Plan for the New Orleans Region and rebuilding the Planning Department.
She empowers her team to view their portfolio of projects as opportunities to improve the lives of the community they serve. Her motto is, "it is not about the project, it is about how the project im- proves the community."
Election Of Board Officers
The HART Board also voted to reelect Commis- sioner Mariella Smith (Hillsborough County), Direc- tor Melanie Williams (City of Tampa), and Councilman Gil Schisler (Temple Ter- race), as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, respectively.
For more information on HART, visit www.go- HART.org.
Free Mental Wellness Sessions For Women
The University Area CDC (Community Development Corporation) is bringing back free mental wellness support sessions for women through its “Get Moving!” program.
Once again led by Licensed Cognitive Behavioral Thera- pist, Crystal Clark, these mental wellness sessions aim to help residents take care of their minds, bodies and souls during these stressful times.
Topics covered will include stress management, coping skills, mindfulness, finding life balance, self-care and goal set- ting.
“Wellness U is a safe space for people to come together, discuss challenges and find ways to overcome the stress and anxieties of life,” said Erica Nelson, director of op- erations. “The program pro- vides weekly support groups to help navigate through the process of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a small group set- ting. Not only did previous par- ticipants experience a significant reduction in stress, anxiety and depression, they also made friendships for life. Especially in times of COVID- 19, it is important to provide the extra support that we need to help each other get through hardships and become the best version that we can be for our- selves, and for our families.”
Those interested should contact Ronnie Oliver at (813) 558-5212 x 310 or at ro- liver@uacdc.org.
CRYSTAL CLARK ...Licensed Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
Limited space is available. To qualify, participants must agree in advance to attend every meeting. Temperature checks and face coverings/masks will be re- quired.
The sessions will be held every Thursday for six weeks, beginning January 14, 2021, 6 to 8 p. m. through February 18, at Harvest Hope Center, Har- vest Hope Park, 13704 N. 20th Street, Tampa.
Serving the community for more than 20 years, University Area CDC provides support for thousands of Tampa residents through holistic programming, adult education and resource assistance.
More information about University Area CDC, a 501(c)(3) public/private part- nership, is available by calling 813.558.5212 and by visiting www.uacdc.org.
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