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On behalf of the , please welcome the new (OWB) Executive Director, Gretchen Kerr. Kerr will continue to lead OWB’s mission to enhance the quality of life in Erie’s West Bayfront neighborhoods through civic engagement, thoughtful development, historical preservation and neighborhood pride.

Kerr has an extensive background in community work, both professionally and as a volunteer. She most recently served as a Fellow for the Love Your Block program at the City of Erie through a grant from Cities of Service and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. The fellowship’s focus was to understand and implement strategies in combating and preventing blight, specifically in areas of the city that have been historically underserved.

Prior to this fellowship, she was hired at the City of Erie as the first Neighborhood Resources Team Lead in the Department of Planning and Neighborhood Resources to further the work of Love Your Block. The position was created to bring City services and engagement directly to neighborhoods by connecting residents to resources and city processes.

Kerr previously worked as the Communication Coordinator for Saint George Church, and prior to that, she worked for 16 years at Allegheny College in a variety of leadership positions in Student Affairs including Residence Life, Leadership and Career Development, and the Dean of Students Office. She earned a BFA from Otterbein University in Theater and Music and has performed in many productions in Erie, PA.

Kerr succeeds Our West Bayfront’s inaugural executive director, Anna Frantz, who was hired in Jan. 2017 and whose last day was July 12.

Kerr’s first day with Our West Bayfront will be Tuesday, Sept. 3.