Star Of Queens

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 2:46 PM EDT

Jen Manley
Queens Borough Director of the
Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Jen Manley, who has been the Queens Borough Director of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit (CAU) for the past six months, said her office is the eyes and ears of the mayor in the community. “My job is to really connect with the community through a variety of different ways and bring the message of the community back to City Hall,” Manley said.

PERSONAL: Manley is originally from New Hampshire and a product of the Vermont State College System, graduating with a degree in Journalism, Creative Writing and Literature from Lyndon State College in 2001. After spending four years working at a private fire and explosion investigation firm, Manley made the move to Queens and worked as a reporter for a Queens newspaper for two years. “It [the reporting job] was really fascinating, and I got to meet so many interesting people and groups,” Manley said.

JOB: While there is hardly ever a typical day at the CAU, Manley spends her days meeting with different community and civic organizations, listens to their problems or concerns and then tries to come up with ways to get them help. Manley said that it feels great when she can direct a community member to the right agency so they can receive help with their issue. However, she also said it is even more rewarding when the person starts spreading the message into the community so more people can receive help.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Manley said that the biggest challenge with her job is making sure all of the community organizations receive the help and attention they need. She said on any given day, there could be three or four different community groups meeting at night so it is difficult to attend all of the meetings. In addition, she said a number of local associations and their members may not realize all of the services that the city government offers, so it is part of her job to bring them to the community.

FAVORITE MEMORY: Manley recalled a service event the CAU participated in during Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year. Manley served as a leader of one of the groups, and she marveled at all of the volunteers who turned out for the event.

— Pete M. Davis