Susannah Selnick Launches Candidacy for Lakewood City Council

Lakewood, OH, April 2021 – Local business leader and nonprofit executive Susannah Selnick has launched her campaign for City Council, pledging to serve every resident of the diverse Lakewood community. The announcement comes on the heels of yet another example of local officials failing to represent the community, as they removed basketball hoops at Madison Park – a move Selnick protested.

“There are so many inconsistencies that I see between what our City preaches and the reality of how it affects people’s lives, and the recent decision regarding the basketball hoops affirmed my calling to step up and make a difference. We spoke out and brought our own hoops to the Court, and I’m just getting started as I make the case that the way our Council operates must change. Lakewood has so much to offer, but that means working hard, having uncomfortable conversations, and seeing a vision for change. I am ready to do that work, to talk to our residents, and embrace a vision for a sustainable, equitable future for Lakewood.”

“I am running because I am proud to call Lakewood home, and I love everything it stands for – access, progress, and acceptance,” said Selnick. “Too often; however, we only talk about these things, and I want us to actually be these things. The recent counter-productive decision to remove the basketball hoops at Madison Park was the last straw. Rather than search for equitable solutions, connect with the community, and truly engage, our City’s first instinct was to take away something that so many of our residents hold dear. This showed me that it is time for fresh leadership, and I’m committed to being the voice for ALL Lakewood.”

Breaking away from politics as usual is a theme for Selnick. Having spent her career advising mission-minded businesses and nonprofits, she believes the City Council should take the same people-oriented approach. That’s the approach she, as a private citizen, took with Madison Park – providing hoops to the community to replace those the city had taken away and launching a community-wide conversation about the deeper issue at play.

“I’m a roll up your sleeves and get it done kind of person. The situation with the basketball courts was another in a long line of examples underscoring that we need change. I’m going to continue fighting for those that want to play at our basketball courts, those who want affordable housing in our great city, those who want to start their dream business in Lakewood.”

Selnick, a local entrepreneur and advisor for businesses and non-profits, believes her experience provides the much needed change for Lakewood government.

“I work tirelessly to enact local and global change on a daily basis, and I want to see the same robust energy from our government. I love creating solutions to help impactful leaders, and I will bring that same problem solving ability as your City Councilwoman. I will give a voice to what makes Lakewood special - our new residents, immigrant and refugee families, and entrepreneurs. I will be the voice for everyone who lives and works in Lakewood.”

Susannah Selnick is a proud, lifelong progressive Democrat with a background both in public health and in entrepreneurship. Her website can be found at www.VoteSelnick.com, and she will be on the ballot for the September 14, 2021 primary election.

About Susannah Selnick

A long-time resident of Lakewood, Susannah has spent her career creating unique development strategies for mission-driven organizations and advocating for entrepreneurs and visionaries. Currently, she works as the Vice President of Community Development at Jon Thomas Consulting – serving difference-makers and change agents throughout the world.

Susannah has raised millions of dollars to conserve natural lands in Puerto Rico; establish comprehensive support systems for women exiting prostitution; transform the DNA identification process for violent sexual offenders; provide individualized literacy tutoring to children in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Euclid City Schools; connect LGBTQIA+ college students to a network of peers and mentors; secure housing, transportation, food security, and utility provision for Northeast Ohio women burdened by the cost of breast cancer treatment; support Northeast Ohio students pursuing careers in the healthcare industry; establish STEM and manufacturing workforce training programs across Ohio to create jobs and bolster our local economies; produce and distribute sanitary napkins to rural women throughout India, despite ongoing stigmas and misinformation surrounding menstruation; provide job readiness and case management services for unemployed individuals in Northeast Ohio, particularly those who are re-entering the workforce after incarceration; create access to basic menstrual hygiene materials for women in state correctional facilitates across the United States; establish one of Northeast Ohio’s only free dental clinic to serve people who are uninsured; implement leadership and entrepreneurship training for girls and young women in the United States; and much more.

Susannah’s experience lies in giving a voice to those who often go overlooked, promoting global gender equity; raising awareness for menstrual equity for rural women and girls; meeting the needs of survivors of prostitution and trafficking; supporting local women in their fight against breast cancer and the financial toll it takes on our most vulnerable communities; creating access to free healthcare for the uninsured; advancing recovery solutions for individuals recovering from addiction; and working to uphold basic human rights in the American correctional system.

Driven by service, Susannah also volunteers her time to impactful organizations in Lakewood. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Lakewood Family YMCA, the Lakewood Chapter of the League of Women Voters, Friends of Madison Park, and the City of Lakewood Citizens Advisory Committee.

Susannah received her Bachelor’s of Arts from Case Western Reserve University, and her Master’s of Business Administration from Cleveland State University. Prior to her work with nonprofits, Susannah worked for local healthcare organizations including Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals. At University Hospitals, Susannah was integral in the planning of the Women’s Health Institute, and the creation of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute, and went on to manage the operations of one of the largest surgical and research departments within the healthcare system. While at CWRU School of Medicine, Susannah performed HIV, cancer, and influenza research.

Susannah Selnick is an experienced community leader with a passion for serving others as they seek to achieve their dreams and reach their highest potential. With a commitment to a vibrant and welcoming Lakewood, Susannah is running to bring a solutions-oriented approach to City Council.