VOTE
to help our community thrive!
We’re holding elections for 2 members of UPO’s Board of Directors and we’d love for you to choose the candidate who will represent your interests:
❱ One member helping residents of Wards 4 & 5
❱ One member helping residents of Ward 8B (south of MacDill Boulevard)
Please vote on one of these days:
November 17 – 20, 23 – 24
9am – 5pm
All residents of Wards 4 and 5, please vote at
UPO’s Building Careers Academy
915 Girard St. NE
All residents of Ward 8B (south of MacDill Boulevard), please vote at
UPO’s Petey Greene Community Service Center
2907 MLK Jr. Ave. SE
Candidates of Wards 4/5
Karen Bernola
is a native Washingtonian who recently retired from Accounting/Benefits, Human Resources, and Instructional Design. She began her career “quacking” for business with AFLAC insurance, then earned her Master’s in Education and started her Doctorate in Instructional Design for Online Learning.
In 2009, Ms. Bernola became a Mayoral appointee on UPO’s Board of Directors and truly enjoyed her tenure. She then returned to the insurance industry as a broker, educating seniors and families on preparing for the future and growing their investments safely. She’s a member of the Church of Christ who worships at University Park; she’s taught 3-5th graders, teens, and tweens, and led the Ladies Bible class.
Gilbert A. Smith, CPA, PMP
is an accomplished financial and telecommunications professional with 35+ years of experience in accounting, financial management, regulatory policy, auditing, operations, and project management. He is a Public Utilities Specialist with the Federal Communications Commission, where he develops telecommunications and accounting policies, leads financial analyses and audits, and supports regulatory oversight and fraud prevention initiatives.
He was Board Chair of the Shiloh Legacy Bequest Fund, Treasurer and Board Member of My Sister’s Place, and had leadership roles with Victory Village Development Corporation, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, and Shiloh Baptist Church.
Candidates of Wards 8B
Rodney Riley
is a dedicated community leader, program coordinator, and entrepreneur. The founder/CEO of Watts-SafestreetsDC, he is devoted to strengthening DC communities through violence prevention, youth development, mentorship, workforce readiness, and community engagement.
His experience (from 2018-on) includes working directly with residents of high-need communities to foster relationships, facilitate mentorships, support conflict resolution, and advance violence interruption efforts. Mr. Riley’s expertise includes returning citizen support, partnership development, event planning, public speaking, and strategic planning. Through his leadership and community engagement, he champions initiatives that empower residents, support underserved populations, and contribute to safer, stronger, and more resilient communities throughout DC.
Robbie Woodland
With 25+ years of experience in mental health and family services, Commissioner Robbie Woodland has dedicated her career to strengthening families, supporting vulnerable residents, and advocating for underserved communities. She worked for DC’s Office of Unified Communications and served as Secretary of the Citizen Advisory Commission for the 7th District Police Precinct.
She is a 4-term elected official representing Ward 8 (ANC 8C06) and a native Washingtonian whose family helped to shape the historic Valley Green community. She founded Act Now DC, a nonpartisan civic engagement organization devoted to giving DC residents clear, unbiased information about candidates, legislation, and public policy.