Meet Emily

Dear Neighbor,

My name is Emily Conklin. I am a candidate for the Newport City Council Ward 2 seat this fall. I am running to represent our neighborhood and hope to meet you during this campaign. I am going door-to-door to speak with all our neighbors about our vision for Newport. Until we meet face-to-face, I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself. 

I was raised by my mom, Donna, alongside my sister, Carrie. My mom is one of four from Agawam, Massachusetts, with a large extended family. Her father, my Baba, served in the Navy during World War II and continued that commitment to service after returning home. He was always fixing something or growing something, demonstrating how to care for one another through acts of service. My mom took the lesson of creating community through caring for others to heart, putting herself through school to become a nurse. During her nursing career, she worked in hospitals and in-home care, ultimately earning her Master’s Degree from Boston University. Throughout my childhood until her retirement, my mom was a hospice nurse, spending her life caring for others in one of their most difficult times. 

My mom’s commitment to others and their well-being shaped our understanding and experience of community growing up. She instilled in my sister and me a strong sense of justice, the belief that everyone has a right to care and attention, and that we all have a role to play in supporting one another. The values of compassion and empathy are deeply rooted in our family. These values extended to our four-legged family members and the outdoor spaces we frequented. Throughout my childhood, my eyes were opened to how we are impacted by the natural world around us. This impact goes both ways, though, and our influence on the world around us is not always positive. From a young age, I wanted to work to understand and protect the natural world so that others could also enjoy its wonder. I devoured every book I could and begged to go to the aquarium or natural history museum every chance we got. I was a water baby, relishing family trips to Cape Cod or the Connecticut shore where I could hunt for sea glass and play in the waves. When I was seven, I declared that I was going to be a marine biologist when I grew up, and I never wavered from that path. 

I earned my Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, focusing on scientific research skills that helped me pursue answers to the questions I have always had about the world around us. I knew by this time the profound effect that humanity has on our environment, and I wanted to understand not just how natural systems work, but how we can mitigate our negative impacts and live in concert with the Earth we inhabit. I graduated with a double major in Biology and French Studies, and a minor in Sociology. My education built on the foundation my family provided me, preparing me to approach challenges with curiosity and compassion for all sides to determine the best outcome. 

After teaching high school science for two years, I pursued a Master’s degree in Marine Biology through the Northeastern University Three Seas Program. This experiential degree program changed my life in many ways, not the least of which was bringing me together with my partner, Patrick. Three Seas helped me discover that the science communication I wanted to do is not in a classroom setting but rather with the general public, supporting folks incorporating conservation and environmental protection into their day-to-day lives. 

My Master’s degree program also relocated me to Somerville, Massachusetts, where I was welcomed into my first real community as an adult. I became involved in environmental activism at the state and local levels and worked with my neighbors to support our community together. These same neighbors introduced me to the practice of making municipal meetings easy to follow and accessible by live-posting them online. Engaging with my neighbors to understand our community’s needs and address them made me happier and more connected to where I lived. Though it also made it harder to leave, I swore to carry these principles with me to my new home in Newport, Rhode Island. 

I followed Patrick to Newport in 2020, where we have made a home for ourselves in a marine biologist’s dream city. 2020 was a challenging year for so many of us, and I was touched by how the community showed up for one another. It was clear right away that this is a place where people help one another and find ways to thrive in challenging circumstances. As a transplant to the City, I felt even more called to support and protect what made me fall in love with this community. I resolved to show up for my new neighbors, and I’ve been working to do that ever since. 

Since February 2021, I have attended almost every City Council meeting and workshop, and live-posted them, sharing the discussions and decisions made in real time. After seeing how helpful online engagement could be in my community in Somerville, I wanted to bring this accountability measure to Newport so that folks who work nights, have kids, or other obligations can follow the decisions being made in their name. I’ve now attended over 100 meetings, which has helped me to understand the process the City takes to explore and execute decisions, the pain points residents experience interacting with City government, and the rules of meetings. I’ve learned a lot and I’m proud to be a resource for my neighbors on everything from voter registration to navigating zoning regulations. A well-informed public strengthens our community and helps us work together to make positive change. As your City Councilor, I’ll remain dedicated to a transparent government, listening to the lived realities of our community and taking those with me through every vote. 

Newport is a beautiful place to live, and my partner and I are blessed to have made our home here. Many of our neighbors have not been so lucky, and we have seen friends move away because they can’t afford to stay. As a renter, I know how challenging it can be to find and maintain housing. Multigenerational Newporters are being priced out, and new residents are struggling to stay long-term. Housing availability underpins our community wellbeing, from schools to the economy, and I will work to ensure residents can remain here. My vision for Newport is a livable future for all, which means housing that the average worker can afford, infrastructure that is well-maintained and resilient to climate change, and educational opportunities that support our future generations. Our current struggles are not a surprise to Newporters - they have been developing for years. We have the tools to address the issues that face our community. We just have to be brave enough to use them. If elected, I will work to implement the plans the City has already invested in to support stable housing for year-round residents and improved infrastructure. Residents deserve to have their well-being prioritized, and I look forward to working on your behalf.  

I am running for Newport City Council Ward 2 to bring my heart for service and dedication to community to City government. I fundamentally believe that the government works for us and all Newporters deserve representation that listens to and considers them in decision-making. I hope we can work together and that I will earn your vote in the General Election on Tuesday, November 3. If you have any questions about my campaign and how I will work for you on the City Council, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I am available via email at emily@conklinfornewport or by phone at (401) 400-2402. If you see me around town, please stop me for a chat! I look forward to meeting you and working together for a livable future for Newport. 

Yours in service,
Emily Conklin