To whom it may concern,

I am writing in support of Patricia Sinay's application to the Citizen's Redistricting Commission. I have known Patricia for many years and I think that she would be a solid contributor to this important work. Our work together started in 1996 when we were both fellows at the San Francisco Foundation. The Foundation's fellowship is designed to accelerate the careers of early to mid-career professionals of color who have an interest generally in public service and sometimes specifically in philanthropy. In this capacity we were a part of cohort of six who were responsible for grantmaking and supporting other key organizational objectives. Since then we have kept in touch over the year and our careers have grown on parallel tracks. In the fellowship and in the time since then I have admired Patricia's approach to the work and values.

Patricia's experience spans across a number of policy areas as well as sectors and she is known for her hard work, ethical approach, and passion for achieving positive results in the communities that she has served. She has worked for a variety of health related causes and advanced social justice related work in a variety of institutions as a grant maker, nonprofit executive, and consultant. And she has work at both a programmatic and policy level. She has worked with a variety of stakeholder groups and shown the ability to work with people of all backgrounds, incomes, and political orientations to achieve results.

I have no doubt that she will approach her work on the commission with the same set of standards and passion. As I citizen of the State of California I would absolutely feel like the Commission's work was in great hands with Patricia as a member. I recommend her without any reservation.

Sincerely,

Fred Blackwell
CEO
San Francisco Foundation

Patricia Sinay has demonstrated impeccably her generous, wise ability to lead a wide array of college students to appreciate the profound value of public service education and public service engagement. She inspired our staff and faculty at Marshall College, UC San Diego with her range of asset mapping throughout greater San Diego and amazed us with the long distinguished guest list to her public service seminars (TMC 15) from the President of SDSU to energetic young environmentalists. The Public Service Minor is a key element of Marshall College's profile and the key creator of the program in 2003 (Dr. Michael Schudson who is now at Columbia University and a MacArthur "Genius" fellow [Redacted] has great respect for Ms. Sinay. Her agile gifts as an organized community leader for 25 years in our public and private sectors support fully how well she has handled problem-solving and better international border relations. She is a proven fundraiser & mediator engaging networking to enhance fruitful partnerships and long-lasting positive social impact. She is bilingual and extremely well-travelled throughout our hemisphere. In my 31 years on faculty at UC San Diego, 10 years in high executive campus leadership, and now in my capacity as Dept Chair in Theatre & Dance (my home dept), it is an honor to state that Ms. Sinay speaks to the better elements of higher education and civic engagement. Her vitae depicts a rich command of community outreach and trust. The motto at Marshall College is Scholar & Citizen - Patricia Sinay is a paragon of that ideal. Please grant her candidacy every good favor as she has earned this distinction. [Redacted]

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit this letter of recommendation for Patricia Sinay to be considered for an appointment to the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Committee.

Patricia and I met in 2007 in my first year serving as a Commissioner to First 5 San Diego whose programs and services are funded through San Diego County's portion of the State's Proposition 10 tax revenues. Patricia owns and operates Community Investment Strategies, a consulting firm connecting nonprofits, businesses, governments, and foundations' passions to action. She had been hired as a consultant to give the Commission recommendations on how best to invest in parent engagement. Patricia also brought representation of North San Diego County to the Commission, being a mom of two children under 3, and a Latina immigrant to the table. Her work consisted of synthesizing interviews and surveys with diverse stakeholders and organizing and facilitating focus groups in a total of 5 different languages. Patricia was able to find the right partners, translators, as well as communicate in Spanish and English.

It was a delight to learn that both Patricia and I lived with our families in the same community. Our paths crossed often and I enjoyed running into her and their adorable toddlers who were developing language in both English and Spanish. Our friendship has endured and those toddlers are now impressive and accomplished tween/teen agers who are fluent in both Spanish and English!

In 2008 First 5 San Diego embarked on an intensive strategic plan process. Patricia accepted an invitation to serve on the strategic planning committee consisting of individuals from various community sectors who worked with ages 0 to 5. I represented the Commission on the committee and appreciated Patricia's engagement and enthusiasm for our task as well as her ability to pose just the right question or comment that helped with the free-flow of discussion and reaching consensus.

Patricia's service on the strategic planning committee led to an invitation to submit an application to serve on the First 5 San Diego Technical & Professional Advisory Committee (TPAC) to which she was duly appointed. During her tenure the Commission needed to reconfigure the membership so that only individuals representing organizations that received no funding from First 5 San Diego could serve on the committee. Patricia had experience creating advisory groups at the San Diego Foundation so was asked to help create new criteria for serving on TPAC. Her ability to build consensus and communicate the fundamentals of conflict of interest helped make the resulting transition successful.

Another civic service experience Patricia and I share was service on the Encinitas Union School Board. In 2015 a school board member left mid-term and the board needed to appoint someone to fill the seat. We were a long serving elected board of trustees (average 20 years of district experience) and gave a lot of thought to our procedure. Along with the submittal of the application form and resume, three questions requiring written answers were included. A special (public) board meeting was scheduled to interview the candidates. Since there had not been an appointment made to the board in 25 years, there was much interest in the appointment and a packed board room of staff and members of the public. We had ten candidates and used a ranked order process. Patricia quickly rose to number one and was appointed to complete the remaining two years of the board term. After her appointment almost every candidate but one complimented our choice of Patricia. Her appointment garnered staff and community support and accolades.

Patricia quickly adapted to being a member of a governing board. Patricia availed herself of several of the California School Boards Association's signature governance training modules for school board members. We were four seasoned board members who had a sort of short hand understanding amongst us of the district's policies and procedures. The addition of Patricia as our fifth board member went smoothly as a result of the goodwill and commitment to a successful transition by all of us. Patricia was eager to understand both the history of past board actions and the current action plan/guiding principles of the school district. Our board discussion in open session was more cogent as a result of Patricia's probing questions and analysis regarding proposed action and decisions of the board. Her superior analytical skills around building consensus, data analysis, and particular knowledge of diverse groups enriched our focus of effort on student learning. Patricia provided guidance in the resolution of an issue that arose with our district's Dual Language Immersion program. She coached administrators and parent leaders about building consensus, yet another example of her ability to foster positive outcomes.

Board meetings subject to the Brown Act are action/business meetings held in public with strict parliamentary process for input from the public and discussion by board members. As a result, school or other civic board meetings are sometimes confusing or frustrating for the citizens who attend. Patricia's vast consulting experience around building consensus, fostering impartiality, and articulating defined goals meshed well with our Board's core concepts particularly: engaging stakeholders in envisioning district success by focusing all efforts on teaching and learning. She quickly internalized the governance model that the elected Board defines the "what" and the Superintendent guides the professional staff in developing the "how." Patricia was able to easily join in Board discussion of agenda items and help bridge through thoughtful, strategic questions some consternation of audience members. Often this was tan attendee's first time at a meeting and some found it difficult understanding the agenda process or why there is not give and take between the board and the public during the meeting.

Well functioning governing boards and councils are sometimes viewed as "rubber stamps" because it appears they always approve the proposed action requested by administration. What is not seen is the board's due diligence to understand all facets of their district responsibilities starting with student learning and achievement, data analysis, financial solvency, policies and procedures regarding curriculum, safety, employment, etc. Also not seen is the meeting preparation by the board: reading of reports and back-up materials, clarifying information with staff, which leads to effectively communicating the board member's position during the public meeting.

Patricia has shared in her application a particularly trying decision we faced as a school board. In the middle of the school year, one of our principals accepted an assistant superintendent position in another school district. Our superintendent recognized the difficulty of hiring a principal mid-year and recommended reassignment of principals. The principal position vacated required fluency in Spanish and a principal with this skill was available at one of our non-Spanish speaking schools. Another principal asked to be transferred to the position that had opened and as a result, the superintendent decided to elevate a long time teacher/academic coach with an administrative credential to the remaining opening. This decision to hire the "new" principal was brought to the board because we approve all staff hires/contracts. Some parents at the "third" school objected to their principal being "taken" from them and that they didn't have input on the "hire." The board heard from some of the parents at the school that they felt the process was flawed and that their school community was somehow being disrespected. Some focused their ire on Patricia threatening to not vote for her in the upcoming election if she didn't at least cast a "symbolic" no vote. The board's job was to approve the action recommended by the superintendent to hire this principal. The candidate met all the competencies and requirements as set forth in the job description. We approved the principal hire unanimously. It was difficult to observe the maligning of Patricia during that time. Through her strength of character, she comported herself admirably as she campaigned for re-election.

Patricia shared that she worked for Blue Star families as the Interim Director of Program, Policy, and Partnerships. She accepted this interim position shortly after she was appointed to the school board. Blue Star Families was implementing a new strategic plan requiring that they reorganize themselves. The changes helped them grow their membership of active military families, strengthen these communities throughout the United States, and better engage their members. She led a team of 9 individuals who were based throughout the United States in creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that work with military families to assure that they achieve the results they want both personally and professionally. The job required her to be in contact with her team via web meetings and once a month in person meeting in Washington, D.C.

I remain impressed with how Patricia took on this interim position while balancing her existing contracts and school board responsibilities. Her strong belief in their mission and her caring concern for military families made her an excellent fit for the particular need of Blue Star Families at that time. I gained much valued insight from Patricia on their mission to empower military families to thrive.

It is my experience of Patricia Sinay in action that leads me to recommend her for an appointment to the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Committee. She will bring a lifetime of experience working collaboratively with diverse groups to foster community building and civic engagement which will lead to insuring an engaged electorate. Please give Patricia Sinay's application serious consideration. She will be an indispensable member to the committee.

I have known and worked with Patricia S. Sinay as a philanthropy, social investment professional and thought partner for now some 20 years. I recall her early entry into the field as a member of the prestigious multicultural fellows program of the San Francisco Foundation, and her active involvement in Hispanics in Philanthropy, the leading Bay Area-based association of foundation professionals committed to advancing Latinx representation and contributions relative to the social sector. At the San Diego Foundation and more recently as a social investment advisor and university-based scholar and lecturer on nonprofit managemrnt, she has continued to provide real leadership on issues of community inclusion in civic and public decision making processes. Patricia's enduring values, her impeccable integrity, and her keen sense of fairness are defining aspects of all that she does. She demonstrates in every part of her life a commitment to the common good, and she understands fundamentally the value of public engagement, from voting to civic education in a multicultural democracy like ours. Her vast experience over the years in community and the civic commons makes her an unusually informed and capable arbiter of California's next stage political line drawing. She would be a magnificent addition to the state redistricting commission. Indeed, it would be hard to find a more diligent, purposeful and committed indivudual for this timely and important role in our state's next generation governance.

Patricia is extremely knowledgeable about working in diverse communities, having an extensive service background in the communities of San Diego. As my instructor for Public Service in America at UC San Diego, she provided students opportunities to design public service projects that aimed to increase civic engagement at UC San Diego. She encouraged students to consider various stakeholders and remain conscious about different perspectives. As the facilitator for class discussions, Patricia was an excellent bridge between differing political perspectives among students. Because of her commitment to diversity, fairness, and civic engagement, I believe Patricia would be a worthy candidate for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.

I've known Patricia for over 20 years. She has been involved in community work ever since we met and probably before that. She is a community leader who doesn't hesitate to volunteer her time and talent to benefit non-profit organizations. She is civic minded. I've been impressed with her facilitating skill, able to bring people with different background together to discuss important issues. Patricia is able to be fair, objective, and analytical. She is a strong researcher who understands statistical analysis. She is an important resource to community leaders, never hesitating to share invaluable articles on policy issues. She is a respected thought partner to those working to solve community problems. I believe that Patricia will be a leader in this important commission, able to work with people from different backgrounds. She will get the work done in an effective and efficient manner. Her communication skills will be an asset to this group.

Ms Sinay has been actively involved in our region for several decades and has a deep understanding of the needs and challenges of our community. She has approached her involvement with both integrity, compassion and a desire to ensure that all have a voice. I believe she will serve well on behalf of all residents of California and the San Diego region and support her appointment.

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit this recommendation for Patricia Sinay. I've had the distinct pleasure of knowing Patricia for four decades, and have watched her mature from an intelligent, inquisitive, thoughtful friend, into a professional who approaches her work with the same intelligence, thoughtfulness and inquisitive nature.

Patricia's work in the non-profit sector can be directly credited for improving the lives of countless Californians through community building and civic engagement. I believe her experience, and knowledge makes her uniquely suited to join the Citizen's Redistricting Commission.

Sincerely,
Robin Winston
COO, FIrst Star Inc.

When I served as the Executive Director of the San Diego Housing Federation we engaged Patricia to facilitate the development of a strategic plan. She did such a great job that we had her return one or twice more to facilitate an update. She worked with the Board of Directors and staff on these projects.

She was professional, congenial and was able to "here the cats" in the most amiable way. She is fantastic in working with others and capable of listening and reacting the the best way possible.

I think she would be a valued added member of the commission.

I am honored to support Patricia Sinay's application to join the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. Patricia is a strong professional and volunteer leader who is committed to bettering our community in tangible ways. For many years, Patricia has directly served San Diego's nonprofit sector through community building and civic engagement. She has extensive knowledge of populations in need, including immigrants and refugees, veterans, the elderly, and at-risk youth. Patricia is a gifted connector, collaborator, and facilitator and is often sought after by other nonprofit professionals for training, mentoring, and wise counsel. I believe her experience, and knowledge makes her uniquely suited to join the Citizen's Redistricting Commission.

Patricia is passionate about making a difference in her city and state. She finds ways to make a positive impact through her professional and personal endeavors. Patricia is a great connector - always thinking of ways to have people and organizations collaborate to strengthen their efforts. She is espedcially impactful when it comes to diversity and inclusion - always thinking of how to give a voice to those who are not at the decision-making table. I have seen her in action through her involvement with the nonprofit, Latina organization MANA de San Diego. Patricia constantly offers personal support and gives MANA the opportunity to engage in business and civic circles where the organization and its members might not have been invited. Her influence stretches to many stakeholders in our community including corporate, educational institutions, nonprofits, government, and more. I know Patricia has integrity and genuinely cares about our community and whole-heartedly recommend her for this Commission.

It is my pleasure to write in support of Patricia Sinay. She has always had a broad interest in serving her community and in bringing new voices into a conversation.

Her integrity is beyond question. She is known in our region and in our State as someone who has the highest ethical standards. She understands the diversity of our State, which I believe comes naturally to her, but she has also worked hard to hear all points of view. Her career shows a dogged interest in community outreach and community building through building trust.

Her analytical skills would be of great value to this commission. Many boards and organizations have sought her out due to her skill at giving data a fresh look and inviting new conclusions.

I can think of no one better qualified to serve California in this position. Thank you for considering my comments.

To whom it may concern,
It is my privilege to give Patricia Sinay my recommendation for the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Ms. Sinay is uniquely qualified given her extensive history of working within the community as an advocate. A former UC San Diego professor, she has the experience in working with individuals of all ages, genders, orientations, religions, ethnicities, abilities, veteran status and national origins. She has experience in listening to diverse perspectives and has a true commitment to making sure each is respectfully heard.

I have had the privilege of sharing lengthy conversations about the future of California, in private, in public. Most recently, in the presence of our teenage daughters so as to let them know that civic engagement is necessary for people of all ages. Her dedication to the community is as tireless as her dedication as a mother. The Commission needs to reflect the populace of California and Ms. Sinay is the embodiment of intersectionality, bridging culture, language to work at the state and federal level.

Patricia is a woman of integrity and strength. I admire her not only for her values, but for her commitment to democracy, representation and to bringing communities together to work for a greater goal. She is a leader and excellent facilitator, allowing individuals to reach their own conclusions and find the common ground in their diverse points of view. Selecting her as a Commissioner will be beneficial not only to Encinitas, but to the entire state.

In 2015 I met Patricia as part of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality and learned about her strong record of philanthropy and civic engagement. In the four years since knowing Patricia, we have touched base on the values of service and community that guide her principles. From our time advocating Senate Bills in Sacramento to Capitol Hill, I am proud to give Patricia my support knowing she will be a balanced voice on the Citizens Redistricting Committee

Respectfully,

Karina Quintanilla

Patricia exhibit's the highest standard of work & ethics. I am confident she has applied for this position because she wants the outcomes of the committee's work to meet the test decisions being made based on the proper principals & facts that are presented. She has choices on hoe she spends her time & Patricia sees this as an opportunity to make sure the work on this commission is of the highest ethical standards.

Patricia is a data-driven decision maker who respects and upholds democratic governance structures. She is fair-minded and process-oriented. She is a compassionate leader and when she served as a Board member for the District, she always considered the diverse cultural and demographic needs of the students and families within our District. During a contentious election process in which she was at the receiving end of spiteful vitriol, she maintained her dignity and integrity as a candidate. I cannot imagine someone who could be more qualified than Patricia to serve as a commission member.

Since 1994 when I met Patricia Sinay in Washington, D.C., I have observed Patricia stand up for inclusion as a necessity of the democratic process. She is articulate and open to dialogue in the truest sense in that synthesis only occurs when thesis and antithesis interact. Patricia operates both her personal and public life with integrity. Based on these many years of observation, it is my opinion Patricia would put the people of California first in her work on the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission with the intent being the greater good for all Californians. She would listen and engage all interested parties to find the best way to make all Californians, regardless of distinctions, count.

Once I retired as a high school teacher of Literacy and Language Arts, I enthusiastically became a volunteer with a community non-profit, Los Angelitos de Encinitas, whose mission was to support low-income families in Encinitas. I met Patricia at a Paul Ecke Central Elementary PTA meeting in 2015, where I was introducing an after-school bilingual literacy program to the families at PEC. Once she heard what our group was doing to support literacy at the school, Patricia donated money to help us build our bilingual library. As both a parent and a school board member, Patricia has continued to support our organization and efforts. She keeps us informed of grants and helps spread awareness of our organization and the under-represented population in our school district. I am proud to consider Patricia as a friend and canvassed for her in her campaign for School Board, speaking to neighbors about her ethics, professionalism and good heart. I continue to respect her work in San Diego, as well as our local community.

I have known Patricia for nearly 20 years, primarily through community volunteer efforts focused on philanthropy and inclusion. I have always known her to be strategic, thorough, fair, and inclusive. She is consistently prepared and organized, communicates well, and is passionate about issues of access and equity. She truly cares about improving her community and our state. The Commission would be well-served by having her thoughtful input and engagement in its important work.

I have known Patricia for nearly 40 years. She is an outstanding citizen who has always been driven and committed to the diverse needs of individuals. Patricia is highly intelligent, has strong analytical skills, and has always been passionate about democracy. She would be an excellent member of the Citizens Redistricting Commission because of her vast experience in working with and living around people from various socioeconomic backgrounds. I know for a fact Patricia is a person of high integrity and would treat her position on the Commission the same way.

It is an honor to support Patricia Sinay for appointment to the California Redistricting Commission. I have known Patricia for approximately five years and have known of her work in communities and philanthropy longer. Patricia has worked as a catalyst for change across communities and toward a shared vision. As a community facilitator, academic, and representative of true diversity, I have no doubt that Patricia will serve our state and its citizenry on this commission with the highest levels of integrity and inclusion.

To Whom It May Concern:
I have had the opportunity to collaborate with Patricia Sinay in increasing access to care for our underserved families throughout San Diego County. Patricia volunteers her time and expertise in fundraising for vital health services for underinsured or uninsurable families. Last year, she helped organize clothes and books for hundreds of migrant families who were displaced at the border. This is one of many examples that come to mind that underscore Patricia's responsiveness to the needs of our community. She understands that as a community we are all interdependent and that strong collaboration makes us more competitive as a region and as a congressional district. She has the ability to travel across the County and really get to learn from a qualitative /quantitative angle the strengths and needs of our region. I find her fearless in her pursuit of equity, knowledge, asset mapping and sharing information gained, lessons learned and relationships with all. She is a true connector/partner and is able to relate to challenges faced by struggling working families, low-income immigrant/ refugees, veterans and seniors. Her voice at the table will represent constituents/ taxpayers that can easily be intentionally/ unintentionally ignored or excluded from the redistricting process and representation.
For these reasons, I support Patricia Sinay's application for the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.

In 2015 I met Patricia during our participation in the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Leadership Institute. As participants, we experienced both opportunities to learn and teach and it was impressive how Patricia was very intentional about doing both; she sought the opportunity to absorb and listen to diverse and sometimes contradictory perspectives with grace. Patricia was also an immediate contributor to discussions on gender, race, equity and civic engagement. Her contributions in an incubator for Latina leaders was impactful for she not only shared theory or practice but always included data and analysis of the topics being discussed and thus, elevating the conversation even further.

Her unique perspective and personal experience affords her the ability to be a voice for California's diversity and her work in nonprofit, academic, philanthropic and civic engagement demonstrates her commitment to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion of all voices.

Patricia has been a colleague, friend and mentor to me and many other Latina professionals leading us with beautiful family values and great integrity. It is for this reason that I highly support Patricia Sinay's application to join the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission.

As a friend and colleague, it is my honor to recommend Patricia Sinay to serve as a 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission member. I have had the pleasure of working with Patricia for over two decades in the nonprofit sector. Patricia is a person of the highest level of integrity - personally and professionally. As a bilingual and bicultural civic/social activist, locally and statewide, Patricia has a broad understanding of the rich diversity of the state of California. Having worked as a staff member, consultant and volunteer in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, Patricia has developed a wide range of analytical skills, with the ability to review and analyze data and apply to developing effective strategies for implementation to achieve agreed upon goals and objectives. I am confident Patricia would be a valued and effective commissioner.

Respectfully, Linda L. Katz

As a friend and colleague, it is my honor to recommend Patricia Sinay to serve as a 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission member. I have had the pleasure of working with Patricia for over two decades in the nonprofit sector. Patricia is a person of the highest level of integrity - personally and professionally. As a bilingual and bicultural civic/social activist, locally and statewide, Patricia has a broad understanding of the rich diversity of the state of California. Having worked as a staff member, consultant and volunteer in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, Patricia has developed a wide range of analytical skills, with the ability to review and analyze data and apply to developing effective strategies for implementation to achieve agreed upon goals and objectives. I am confident Patricia would be a valued and effective commissioner.

Respectfully, Linda L. Katz

I first met Patricia Sinay when she was a Senior Program Officer at the San Diego Foundation and I was retained as a consultant. This was more than 20 years ago and since this time we have collaborated on several projects. As a friend and colleague, I have seen Patricia navigate multiple roles and transitions all of which served her community in some manner or form. Consistent themes that I have observed are an unwavering commitment to ethics, concern and compassion for vulnerable populations, and willingness to consider diverging perspectives on complex social problems. There is no doubt in my mind that Patricia would serve as a member of the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission with diligence and integrity.

I have worked with Patricia Sinay through the League of Women Voters North County San Diego to research and present ballot measure information to voters in our region since June 2018 and continuing as we give presentations for the March 3, 2020 Primary. As the trainer of this League voter service activity, I have observed Patricia's contributions of a keen understanding of complex ballot issues and, importantly, what such election information sessions represent to first-time voters and students.
She has demonstrated the highest ideals of the League's mission to present unbiased, non-partisan information and is particularly adept at spotting bias in our presentation materials and practice sessions. In addition, Patricia's bilingual ability to deliver ballot information in Spanish has extended our League's outreach within our community.
I strongly endorse consideration of Patricia as a Redistricting Commissioner, because I believe she has all the intellectual skills and insight required for this position.

I have known Patricia through the past year. She has extensive and varied experience that makes her uniquely qualified to serve on the commission. She has an ability to critically analyze and synthesize information and a diverse perspective that enriches conversations to get better outcomes. Being able to understand various perspectives and valuing what each can contribute has been valuable in the conversations we have had about education in the county and across the state.

As Chairman of the Chula Vista Planning Commission, I have been fortunate to get to know Patricia at community events, and with the work, she does with various economic and community-based organizations. Her kindness and thoughtfulness have made her a pleasure to work with and I am encouraged that she would seek the opportunity to be a Redistricting Commissioner. The community would benefit from her experience.

To whom it may concern, It is with a large degree of gratitude that I am able to honor Patricia Sinay in such a formal forum. I have known Patricia for over 5 years through my church and as a school board candidate for our local elementary district. I have always found Patricia to be genuine, of high moral standards and an exemplary team player at church and in our community as an advocate for families and community. Patricia has always made herself and her home available to promote collaboration and communication in order to provide understanding and promote action to making our community a better place to live. I have been a classroom teacher for 37 years and have found that Patricia's knowledge of how education and school districts work to be not only accurate and forward thinking but also practical and attainable. I support the Patricia and guarantee that she will carry out her duties with integrity and high resolve.
Sincerely,
Tim Staycer

We hired Patricia to help us with our organization's strategic planning, and to conduct our staff and board retreats at Pacific Arts Movement. It turned out to be a great investment. Patricia took the time to understand the heart and mission of our organization, and she has the background to also incorporate cultural sensitivity with our work. She successfully led our retreats, and created a great starting point for our 3-year strategic planning. In addition, without even asking, Patricia always sends me important grant and organizational information she receives by email that she thinks is relevant to our work. She is incredibly thoughtful, and organized. I highly recommend her!

I met Patricia nearly six years ago when as a freshman at UC San Diego (UCSD), I took her course on public service. The question we tackled the very first week was "why does one chose to serve and be engaged in their community?" While our class was small, we didn't reach an agreeable answer immediately, as the students in our class had a wide spectrum of thoughts and very different life circumstances. In retrospect, I believe this dynamic could have led to some tense class meetings. However, Patricia was a fair and thoughtful professor, who encouraged vocal, though at all times respectful, participation from each student. Looking back at all of the classes I had the opportunity to take at UCSD, I feel that her course most embodied free and non-judgmental idea sharing.

During our ten weeks studying public service together, my classmates and I saw Patricia continue her own public service journey, by joining the Encinitas School Board. As someone who now works for a school board and is passionate about education, I followed Patricia's tenure on the board closely. She brought such a valuable perspective as a parent of school-aged children, and was never one to "get in line;" her priority was the students of Encinitas, not future elections.

If Patricia is selected, I am confident she will bring her full self to the Citizens Redistricting Commission. This means someone who asks sharp questions, is an enthusiastic listener, and gifted consensus builder.

I am writing regarding Patricia Sinay's 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission. I have known Patricia for more than 20 years, first as a work colleague at The San Diego Foundation, where she tirelessly led efforts to match generous philanthropic dollars with the greatest needs across the community, and later as a dear friend. Through Patricia, I became familiar with a multitude of grassroots and well-established organizations with missions spanning helping children receive access to educational tools, assisting immigrant families caught in an expensive housing crisis, and aiding environmental groups focused on providing clean water. It was because of Patricia that I had the very special opportunity to attend a naturalization ceremony and witness 40 new U.S. citizens taking their oaths.

I have the utmost respect for Patricia's integrity and conviction to make our society more inclusive and to make our leadership more representative of the diversity of our great State of California. One of Patricia's admirable assets is her ability to analyze a set of data and interpret them in a meaningful way for the greatest impact. Couple this with her deep caring for the under-served, and her excellent relationships with those who have the capacity to help. Patricia is discerning, with a keen mind for developing complex applications for data.

I have known Patricia Sinay as a colleague for the past four years. She is knowledgeable about issues of race and diversity and how policy impacts the opportunity of diverse constituents to access resources and build a future. She is able to absorb significant and complex information and develop a well-founded point of view on how to take action. She stands up for our communities and I know as a member of the Redistricting Committee she will stand up for all communities, ensuring we all have a voice in our democratic processes. Thank you.

I have worked with Patricia Sinay in different capacities for more than a decade. Patricia has consistently demonstrated a demeanor which is well suited for the Citizens Redistricting Commission. The characteristics that she demonstrated repeatedly and in different settings include:

1. Diligence. Thoughtfully asking questions in a manner that will paint a complete picture in her mind of the situation at hand.

2. Patience. Allowing time and space for others to meander through a situational discussion and gently bringing them back to the matter at hand.

3. Sound Judgment. Using both intellectual and emotional intelligence, Patricia is able to come to a conclusion and provide recommendations / counsel or make a decision which is fair and practical.

I have known Patricia Sinay for 5+ years now, as she was a School Board member of the Encinitas Union School District when I joined the district after 23 years with San Diego schools. I was immediately impressed with the scope of her knowledge, her insightful questions, and her unequivocal passion for ensuring equitable opportunities for every child in our district. As I got to know her better over the years, I saw numerous examples of that passion for equity manifesting itself in actions to support adults in our communities as well.
Ms. Sinay is a very reflective individual, and would listen and seek the input of others when gathering information to make difficult decisions. There were times an unpopular decision may have cost her politically, but if a decision was in support of these core values of equity, and she believed something was the right thing to do, she never wavered. For this, I have the utmost respect for Ms. Sinay, and I know that she would make an excellent member of the Commission.

Patricia's wisdom, strategic questions and guidance was critical to helping our team work through several pressing challenges we were facing. She is a strong leader, advocate for diversity - particularly vulnerable populations and her approach is intuitively collaborative.