ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Nora
WHERE I COME FROM
I was born and raised in Parma, Ohio, the third of four children. I'm a proud graduate of the Parma City Schools, where I spent most of my time singing in the choir. I attended the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in creative writing.
A THRIVING CAREER
After college, I moved to New York City and worked for The Bank of New York in corporate communications, then New York University's Stern School of Business in public relations. New York was the perfect place for me right out of college — not only was it fun (despite my meager funds) but it was an eye opener. I participated in fundraising walks for AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and homeless animals, and attended charitable concerts for abortion rights. The city provided numerous opportunities for me to learn about and connect with the causes I believed in.
Upon my return to Cleveland, I worked in fundraising for University Hospitals of Cleveland, mostly for Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. While the work was in my wheelhouse — writing grants, organizing fundraisers, producing a telethon, editing a magazine — I learned so much about how poverty, race, gender, and environmental factors affect health crises and outcomes. One magazine story I wrote about how a certain kind of furnace in low-income homes in Cleveland produced black mold that caused bleeding lungs in infants in those homes has stuck with me.
Next I worked at Progressive Insurance as Web Creative Manager. I was fortunate to find a fun, creative job at this quirky company filled with people who were geared toward technology and numbers. I enjoyed managing a team of people and connecting our creative work with the business of selling insurance. It was a great example of what people are capable of when you give them freedom to take risks. This is a lesson I often remember as a school board member.
DEDICATED VOLUNTEER
MY FAMILY
Volunteering in the community is a value I learned from my parents and have practiced throughout my life. In Lakewood, my main focus has been volunteering with the schools. In 2020, I was the campaign manager for the levy for Lakewood City Schools, which passed with a 77% margin of victory despite the change of election day and voting limitations driven by the pandemic. I've served as a PTA President, on the Gifted Services Committee, the School Branding Committee, and numerous focus groups. I also serve on the board of the Lakewood Foundation (a fiscal manager for small charitable organizations) and volunteer for LakewoodAlive (a community service organization). My past service includes the Lakewood Ranger Education Foundation, Citizens Advisory Committee, and Theater Alliance of the Beck Center Youth Theater.
I am the lucky mom of two daughters -- Shannon, who graduated from Lakewood High School this past June and is will study Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in the Fall (I’m surprised and proud that she chose my alma mater!). My younger daughter Bridget, who will begin eleventh grade at Lakewood High School, plays the cello in three different orchestras and loves performing in school plays and musicals. My husband, Kim, and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary this June. We live in Lakewood with our two cats, Charlie and Lola.
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This June, I also experienced the passing of my father, Dan Walsh. He served on the Parma City Schools Board of Education after my siblings and I graduated. His service on the school board and countless other organizations has long inspired my own community service. No one was prouder than my Dad when I won my first election to the school board in 2021. I’m so grateful to carry on his legacy of service to public education, and I hope to do so for years to come.
Throughout my life, family, education, and community have been the foundation of everything I do. These factors come together in my service on the Lakewood City Schools Board of Education. I hope to continue this work for the children of Lakewood, now and in the future.