Sarah Geist

Background

About Sarah Geist

Driven community development professional who continually seeks opportunities to serve my neighbors and advocate for vulnerable populations. Dayton native with a passion for project development, support for small businesses, and advocacy. I am a self-proclaimed Plan-nerd who accepted an internship in Community Development at the age of nineteen that completely altered the course of my life. I fell in love with project management, data analysis, community building through development opportunities, and compliance oversight. I've spent twelve years honing my skillset, garnering expertise in HUD grants, development best practices, and innovative projects to support community equity. Through my work as the Community Development Supervisor at the City of Dayton, I have the opportunity to lead a team of seven individuals in managing approximately $9 million in HUD grants annually. I have the opportunity to ensure our team is well versed in current regulatory standards, able to provide technical assistance to local organizations supporting vulnerable populations, and driven to ensure the ever-shrinking pot of federal funds serves residents with the greatest needs. I am perpetually amazed by my team's dedication to public service and desire to ensure Dayton residents have access to HUD funding for the foreseeable future. I am the owner of The Crafted Cookiery, a small at-home bakery focused on production of custom-designed cookies for all occasions. As a small business owner, I am constantly learning how to adapt to changing markets, maintain reasonable pricing, promote and encourage business growth, and further develop my design and decorating skills. I am also a foster parent with a passion for advocacy and a desire to mend the broken shards of the child welfare system. I am involved with local non-profits supporting individuals and families navigating foster care. I endeavor to maintain connection with all of the individuals my family supports, and am a firm believer that the role of fostering goes beyond taking in children. I strive to educate others in trauma-informed care, the need for connectivity between foster parents and primary families, and the significant challenges primary families face in the foster care system. I am tenacious and willing to utilize all of my resources to ensure the needs and desires of the families I serve are considered and met.