Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellie Shay Hinze.
Kellie is a former elementary school teacher, community advocate and third-generation Encinitas resident currently serving as Deputy Mayor. Called to take action when her mother lost her ability to walk, Kellie became an advocate for safe, accessible sidewalks, welcoming streets, parks and beaches. As former Executive Director of Leucadia 101 Main Street, Kellie learned to build consensus across diverse stakeholder perspectives to bring art, music, small business initiatives and infrastructure improvements to our community.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I trained to be an elementary school teacher with special certification to teach in Spanish. I hoped to teach abroad for a few years and someday return to California to teach in dual-immersion classrooms. I taught one year abroad in a small country in the Himalayas when I lost her ability to walk due to MS.
While in Bhutan, I was encouraged by colleagues to apply for a fellowship at UCSB to earn a master’s of Global and International Studies. I was really happy to earn the fellowship and work as a teacher to assist Professors in their undergraduate courses. In the middle of the degree program, I received a call that my mom was in the ICU with multiple organ failure due to a ‘treatment’ from a woman posing as a medical doctor. She had preyed upon my mom and ultimately almost ended her life. I finished the program and returned to Encinitas to assist with my mom’s road to recovery.
While in my heart, I knew being near my mom and providing care was where I wanted to be, I felt sad to be leaving a career in international education behind. I found purpose and meaning working for the same community where I grew up as a volunteer with the local Main Street association. I eventually became the Executive Director of the organization.
It’s certainly a challenge being a young woman serving in local office but I’ve found much support from my community and a network of women in a California-wide network called Emerge. Now we are facing a clear and imminent threat to our health and our economy. It’s an overwhelming time to be a decision-maker with heightened levels of suffering and uncertainty.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am known as the youngest member of the Encinitas City Council. Ocean-lover, small business champion and bike commuter.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The power of civic engagement. We are all responsible for the world around us and being actively engaged in the decisions of our own communities can be the most powerful way to create positive change. It’s difficult to wade through the controversy of local government but often, the tension from opposing perspectives creates a better outcome for all. It can be undeniably uncomfortable being in the public sphere, but it’s where decisions are being made.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kellieforencinitas.com/
- Phone: (760) 454-0186
- Email: kellie@kellieforencinitas.com
- Instagram: @kellie4encinitas
- Facebook: Encinitas Councilmember Kellie Shay Hinze
- Twitter: @kellie4E
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