Dear Editor, and Watertown neighbors,
I’m writing to introduce myself, Pia Owens, and ask for one of your three votes for Library Trustee in our upcoming election on Nov. 4th.
As trustee, I will aim to keep our library vibrant, inclusive, and committed to intellectual freedom.
I’ve lived in Watertown for 20+ years with my husband Steve and our two kids who attended Watertown Public Schools. I used to visit the East Branch library, and now we have a brick with our names on it in front of the library in Watertown Square. I have served on the library’s Long-Term Strategic Planning Committee, donated to the library, attended countless meetings there, and can often be found typing away in the reading room, checking out the art gallery upstairs, or perusing the display of new books in the lobby.
I’ll bring my professional skills and deep community ties to our library board:
• Legal Counseling: As a practicing lawyer, I have advised corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies on a wide range of contractual and regulatory issues.
• Technology: I’m a former software engineer with undergraduate and master’s degrees in computer science. My current legal practice focuses on data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI governance.
• Communication and Conflict Resolution: I facilitate community dialogues as a member of Watertown Community Conversations, and serve as volunteer ombudsperson for the Periplus Collective for BIPOC writers. I’m a trained mediator and served on the board of the Harvard Mediation Program. I teach negotiation workshops and write about constructive conflict resolution in my Substack newsletter, Let’s Have It Out (https://piaowens.substack.com).
• Community Involvement: In addition to the other activities mentioned above, I’ve been a tutor for Project Literacy, board member and President of the Watertown Community Foundation, and board member of the Mosesian Center for the Arts.
Last year, I facilitated kitchen table conversations about the redevelopment of Watertown Square. Different homes, different groups of people, but the same theme in every conversation: we all love our public library! We’re fortunate to live in a community where we invest in our library and work hard to sustain it. Libraries around the state and country are facing defunding, book challenges, and protests against inclusivity efforts like our annual Watertown Pride celebration. As trustee, I’ll work to maintain our library as a place that’s open and welcoming to all.
Thanks for reading, voting, and caring about our community!
Pia Owens
https://www.piaowens.com/library