Sharon Lasure-Roy is the new director of public information for the City Council.
WHAT DOES SHE DO?
“I make sure that everything that comes out of this office is integrated and consistent with the way we want the City Council perceived by the public.”
AND PERCEPTION IS REALITY?
“Correct.”
ANYTHING ELSE?
“I am redesigning our web site and revamping the content to make it easier to navigate. I already am getting pitched by local design firms, but we’ll probably be able to do it internally. I’ve been checking out other city’s sites to get ideas.”
AND. . .
“I will be writing speeches, writing press releases, participating in media training and setting up Council events. The induction of the new president in July will be big.”
ARE YOU FROM JACKSONVILLE?
“Not originally. My dad was in the Navy so I lived everywhere; New Jersey, Alabama, California, Pennsylvania, Maryland.”
EDUCATION
She has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and communications from Hood College in Maryland.
AFTER COLLEGE
“My parents were in Jacksonville so I worked at a vocational college on Church Street for a while then went back to school at Northwestern to get my master’s in corporate public relations.”
WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
“The money pit. That’s my house in Springfield. I’m sorry. I guess I should say ‘Historic’ Springfield. It was built in 1913 and renovated in 2001. We were on the Christmas tour this year, though, with nine other houses so it was worth it.”
FAMILY
Husband Dejuan is the banquet chef at The River Club. They have two children, Jared, 5, and Savannah, 16 months. She also has a twin brother, Aaron, who lives in Kentucky and works for the FBI. “I love going to Chinese restaurants with him because he speaks Chinese and nobody ever expects a black man to speak Chinese. I have a younger sister, Delilia, who lives in Charlotte. She told me not to abuse my cell phone privileges. My parents live in Argyle.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT BEING THE VOICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL?
“I love to paint. I guess I can call myself an artist because I have sold my work before. I paint portraits, murals, landscapes, and super heroes in my son’s room. I also like to write.”
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE AUTHORS?
“Maya Angelou taught me to be confident. Benjamin Franklin taught me to have common sense. I can’t wait until the new library opens because I love to read.”
MEETING A CELEBRITY
She once had an opportunity to meet Maya Angelou. “I went up to her and said, ‘You’re 18 and you’ve done everything: traveled the world, published poetry.’ And she said, ‘You’re in school doing exactly what you should be doing. Just persevere wherever you are, I really loved that.”
BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL
Lasure-Roy held seven different positions at State Farm Insurance over a 10-year period. Most recently she was in the marketing department for the Florida Regional Branch.
WHEN DINING OUT WITH HER HUSBAND THE CHEF
Matthew’s and Bistro Aix. She also enjoys sushi once a month with her friends.
WHO ARE YOUR
FAVORITE ARTISTS?
French impressionists, Monet, Manet, Cezanne. “Gauguin actually had it figured out. Live on an island and paint. We had the opportunity to live in the Caribbean once but I thought that might be too extreme. Maybe one day.”
DO YOU LIKE MAYOR JOHN DELANEY?
“Yes very much. He helped me carry boxes into my new office.”
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?
“I want to meet with all the Council members to get a feel for their styles and find out what their goals are with newsletters and public appearances. It’s been hard getting a hold of them since some of them also have real jobs in addition to this. Orientation is Monday [today]. I don’t have my badge yet so I have to bribe the guys downstairs to let me park here.”
CHURCH
She’s a member of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. “My dad is Jewish, so I’ve been exposed to a lot of different faiths growing up. My husband is the spiritual guide in our family, always reminding me to be be thankful and have faith.”
WILL THAT HELP YOU IN THIS JOB?
“Let’s just say I’ve been consensus-building around my family for a while.”
WHAT ELSE WILL HELP YOU WITH THIS JOB?
“I’ve always dreamed of making people believe things through words and now I get to do it. I want to make this City Council look and be even better than it already is, and that will be a hard job, but I’m looking forward to it.”
— by Sean McManus