VoWW Interview #25 - Sonia Gawas
Overview
"Voices of West Windsor" is a joint project between the Historical Society and SR Mosaic to fill in the gaps in our records of our town's history. We interview contemporary inhabitants of groups not typically found in our archives so that future residents can get a perspective decades later - much like how our perspectives of old West Windsor were obtained through interviews of longtime residents in the past.
March is Women's History Month. Historically, until the last quarter of the 20th century, women held virtually no local government roles in West Windsor politics. Fast forward half a century and our town council is majority women, each performing monumental and commendable jobs for our community. In this interview, Voices of West Windsor interviews Councilwoman Sonia Gawas, who provides valuable insight into local government, the COVID crisis, and West Windsor's past, present, and future.
"Voices of West Windsor" is a joint project between the Historical Society and SR Mosaic to fill in the gaps in our records of our town's history. We interview contemporary inhabitants of groups not typically found in our archives so that future residents can get a perspective decades later - much like how our perspectives of old West Windsor were obtained through interviews of longtime residents in the past.
March is Women's History Month. Historically, until the last quarter of the 20th century, women held virtually no local government roles in West Windsor politics. Fast forward half a century and our town council is majority women, each performing monumental and commendable jobs for our community. In this interview, Voices of West Windsor interviews Councilwoman Sonia Gawas, who provides valuable insight into local government, the COVID crisis, and West Windsor's past, present, and future.
Talking Points:
(On her experience so far as a council member):
"The idea for being on the council started from when I used to volunteer as School PTA, volunteer, and many other places. I started in office just a month prior to the pandemic shut us all down. Everyone’s safety and health became my priority as a councilperson almost immediately. I started helping with Mercer Masks project, when we heard a nurse being asked to use bandanas as mask due to shortage. This project evolved into us donating over 20,000 masks to the community. This was such a great success and an example of how the community used every resource possible for each other’s safety. We even provided masks for National Guard. I would term this as a community accomplishment. I am very proud of being part of this project. I also worked on projects where the community got together to help the seniors get their groceries, drugs and other stuff as they were worried to leave their houses. We worked with pharmacies, fire stations and other units to create a delivery channel."
(On the importance of women in local government):
"West Windsor's local government has changed quite a bit – in half a century, we have gone from virtually no women in government to significant representation! Women have brought in a new perspective not only in local government, but everywhere. I joined the local government to help working on solutions to the problems that we all see. We as a community are at a point where in the lines of differentiation have blurred. We as women can achieve what we want. "
(On pandemic planning from a municipal perspective):
"There is a lot that goes behind the scenes of the public view in dealing with public issues! And dealing with pandemic has been a challenge as it has been the first of its kind. With the shutdown, we had to think of elders in the town, coordination of various departments – such as fire, police, health, municipal, administration and public works. We had to keep everyone safe and keep the work going. Even with the offices closed, the work was never stopped. The administration has been in full swing all the time. When we shut down last April, we were not set up for virtual meetings or even virtual administration. We had to readjust many processes and develop creative ideas to continue providing the best possible service to the community. The community helped in multiple ways and we are much better a year later.
We tried our best to keep the community informed with every piece of information that we knew. It was a constantly evolving scenario as well. Many a times the plans had to change on an hour basis. There are multiple workers that have to go to work and cannot work virtually! The township administration had to work on planning a way to support these departments as well. Our health department serves West Windsor, Robbinsville and Hightstown. Our school district is divided across two townships and two different counties. We had to coordinate with multiple administrations to address this health challenge."
(Oh her involvement in the PTA):
"Having studied in a different country, working in PTA was my way to learn how our school system works here. Among the 10 schools in West Windsor – Plainsboro school district we deal with 10000 student population. To add to this number are the school administration staff and teachers. PTS is just a parent community working with the school. When the pandemic hit us, our school was also not very well prepared. We just assessed the situation and believed that the schools may reopen in a few weeks, while it has been a year and we are not opened yet. I have two children in school and my children are going through a transition anxiety as they could not get the school experience in this past year. I am glad that the school is working very hard to work on a plan where the transition planning can be done better for the students and parents. Our students amaze me as to how quickly they have adapted to the virtual learning mode. School PTAs have started to organize virtual playdates for the students. This is to help them with mental health and help them engage socially. Transition is very important for helping move every one to a new normal after the pandemic is over"
(On her involvement in the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance):
"When I was a kid, I used to bike long distance to go to school. I would want my kids to be able to walk / bike comfortably. Hence I have an aspiration to work on sidewalks and connectivity to create a safe walking and biking path for everyone.Education for the kids is important but most importantly for the motorists who often pass by at great speeds without caring for kids passing by walking or on bikes. Education on sharing the road is very important. Bicycle and Pedestrian alliance is working on this idea."
(On her experience so far as a council member):
"The idea for being on the council started from when I used to volunteer as School PTA, volunteer, and many other places. I started in office just a month prior to the pandemic shut us all down. Everyone’s safety and health became my priority as a councilperson almost immediately. I started helping with Mercer Masks project, when we heard a nurse being asked to use bandanas as mask due to shortage. This project evolved into us donating over 20,000 masks to the community. This was such a great success and an example of how the community used every resource possible for each other’s safety. We even provided masks for National Guard. I would term this as a community accomplishment. I am very proud of being part of this project. I also worked on projects where the community got together to help the seniors get their groceries, drugs and other stuff as they were worried to leave their houses. We worked with pharmacies, fire stations and other units to create a delivery channel."
(On the importance of women in local government):
"West Windsor's local government has changed quite a bit – in half a century, we have gone from virtually no women in government to significant representation! Women have brought in a new perspective not only in local government, but everywhere. I joined the local government to help working on solutions to the problems that we all see. We as a community are at a point where in the lines of differentiation have blurred. We as women can achieve what we want. "
(On pandemic planning from a municipal perspective):
"There is a lot that goes behind the scenes of the public view in dealing with public issues! And dealing with pandemic has been a challenge as it has been the first of its kind. With the shutdown, we had to think of elders in the town, coordination of various departments – such as fire, police, health, municipal, administration and public works. We had to keep everyone safe and keep the work going. Even with the offices closed, the work was never stopped. The administration has been in full swing all the time. When we shut down last April, we were not set up for virtual meetings or even virtual administration. We had to readjust many processes and develop creative ideas to continue providing the best possible service to the community. The community helped in multiple ways and we are much better a year later.
We tried our best to keep the community informed with every piece of information that we knew. It was a constantly evolving scenario as well. Many a times the plans had to change on an hour basis. There are multiple workers that have to go to work and cannot work virtually! The township administration had to work on planning a way to support these departments as well. Our health department serves West Windsor, Robbinsville and Hightstown. Our school district is divided across two townships and two different counties. We had to coordinate with multiple administrations to address this health challenge."
(Oh her involvement in the PTA):
"Having studied in a different country, working in PTA was my way to learn how our school system works here. Among the 10 schools in West Windsor – Plainsboro school district we deal with 10000 student population. To add to this number are the school administration staff and teachers. PTS is just a parent community working with the school. When the pandemic hit us, our school was also not very well prepared. We just assessed the situation and believed that the schools may reopen in a few weeks, while it has been a year and we are not opened yet. I have two children in school and my children are going through a transition anxiety as they could not get the school experience in this past year. I am glad that the school is working very hard to work on a plan where the transition planning can be done better for the students and parents. Our students amaze me as to how quickly they have adapted to the virtual learning mode. School PTAs have started to organize virtual playdates for the students. This is to help them with mental health and help them engage socially. Transition is very important for helping move every one to a new normal after the pandemic is over"
(On her involvement in the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance):
"When I was a kid, I used to bike long distance to go to school. I would want my kids to be able to walk / bike comfortably. Hence I have an aspiration to work on sidewalks and connectivity to create a safe walking and biking path for everyone.Education for the kids is important but most importantly for the motorists who often pass by at great speeds without caring for kids passing by walking or on bikes. Education on sharing the road is very important. Bicycle and Pedestrian alliance is working on this idea."
