Round Lake Park Board Welcomes New Members Including First Latina Commissioners

The Round Lake Area Park District Board of Commissioners has welcomed three new commissioners.

Sarah Wright was elected to the board in the spring election and is serving as treasurer of the board. Nathalie Alvarez and Massiel Sanchez Giles were appointed to the board in July. Alvarez and Sanchez Giles are the first Latinas appointed to the Round Lake Area Park District Board of Commissioners.

Alvarez, a lifelong resident of Round Lake Beach, graduated from Round Lake High School in 2011. She works as an executive assistant with the city of Waukegan. She has a bachelor's degree from North Park University.

Alvarez said she has a passion for her community and is fortunate for the opportunity to give back through her service as a park commissioner. Nathalie, her husband and daughter enjoy the recreation opportunities the park district brings.

Sanchez Giles, 35, has lived in the Round Lake area for over 25 years. She is a cardiac stress tech for the largest cardiology practice in Lake County and holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Lake Forest College. Sanchez Giles said she has watched the Round Lake area develop into a lively and diverse community. She, her husband and son enjoy many of the programs the park district offers, which is why she was looking to get more involved in the community.

"The park district seemed like the perfect way to do just that," said Sanchez Giles. "I wanted the board of commissioners to reflect the community and the cultures within Round Lake. By serving on the park board as a bilingual Latina, I hope to be an asset to my community and an important resource for them as well."

Wright's family, which includes her husband, a stepson and stepdaughter, also enjoy park district programs. Wright, 45, grew up in Alton, IL, and now resides in Round Lake. She works as a community health specialist at the Lake County Health Department and has a bachelor's degree in sociology from Illinois College.

Wright served with AmeriCorps in her 20s and has volunteered with the park district special recreation programs. She said her goals include helping populations that don't always get the most representation and that she especially wants to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the park district.

Other park board commissioners are President Tim Pasternak and Vice President Nick Metropulos.