Candidate for
Trustee, New Rochelle Public Library; New Rochelle City School District

Haina Just-Michael has lived in New Rochelle for 15 years with her family--husband, Bernard Michael and daughters Rose (17), Sara (15) and Shuli (12). The library has been a resource to her family not only for books but community. "We have made so many friends through the library over the years, from story time to the mad hatter's tea party to lectures and films and exhibits which we have attended at one time or another." We consider the New Rochelle Library a family and friend meeting place. Even Haina's dad likes to sit and read newspapers there.

Over the years Just-Michael, a professional media consultant specializing in non-profit organizations, has assisted the New Rochelle Public Library in public relations activities. At the library, she has worked on the Youth Activities Zone, the Doctorow dedication, the Mad Hatter Tea Parties, the Jazzamatazz evenings, the Spring Fling evenings, the photography exhibit contests, as well as many other events. Haina serves on the board of her children's school, the Westchester Day School and volunteers for Westchester Food Patch (the meals on wheels of Westchester serving food to homeless people). She is part of the MS Walks +Westchester and has helped bring American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to New Rochelle, even physically cleaning what is now known as Skidelsky Park on Fifth Avenue in New Rochelle. She serves on the advisory board of the Westchester chapter of the American Jewish Committee, an international human relations organization, which annually holds interfaith conferences at IONA College in New Rochelle. Most recently, Haina is representing the New Rochelle Jewish Coalition on the New Rochelle Public Library "One City, One Book" committee, a community-wide project that will encourage all New Rochelle residents to enjoy reading the same book over the summer and share in the experience through book discussions to be held in July and August, and a spectrum of public programs during the fall. Haina is excited about a new venture she and her husband have taken on, as co-owners of a Dominican/Italian restaurant in Harlem, NYC called Café Largo.

Ms. Just-Michael is very excited at the prospect of doing even more civic work as a board member of the New Rochelle Library and looks forward to bringing new ideas as well as being a representative of the community to the library.