CAROL CATANESE

By AJ Miguel

Carol Catanese, a long-serving Committee Person for the Pennsbury North 2 precinct and the incoming Vice-Chair of the Kennett Area Democrats, is a local leader dedicated to service and advocacy.  An Energizer Bunny, as KAD Chair Wayne Braffman calls her in jest, Carol’s plate (and calendar) is filled with opportunities that reflect her commitment to civic engagement.

As one of six children growing up in a second-generation immigrant family on Long Island, Carol flexed her liberal political muscles through spirited yet civil discussions with relatives in her predominately blue collar, working class, conservative neighborhood.  After four years as a high school social studies teacher in the City of Baltimore, and following a cross-country trek with a friend to commemorate the United States Bicentennial, Carol ultimately chose to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of Missouri.  She met her husband out west and they relocated to Chester County when her husband took a job with DuPont.

Carol became active in the Avon Grove School District’s PTA when she was a stay-at-home mom of two.  She felt the call to be involved in other important issues as well, such as water conservation and protecting the environment; she put on her scientist hat as a volunteer with the White Clay Watershed Association, where she was an integral part of the organization’s success in having the White Clay Creek designated as a Wild and Scenic River System.  When her family moved to the Chadds Ford area, she jumped in to help out on the PTOs in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, including serving in various leadership positions and chairing numerous committees and events.  Carol is also an English as a Second Language tutor, which she finds incredibly rewarding.

Politically, Carol has been active locally for years.  She moved from a non-partisan Inspector of Elections position into an elected CP position in KAD.  In addition to her responsibilities as a CP, Carol manages the KAD monthly newsletter, maintains a mailing list for use by each precinct, organizes KAD’s participation in events such as the Women’s March, and serves on the Be the Change and the Budget Committees.  She’s stepping in as Vice-Chair, where her goals include filling every vacant CP slot, supporting the efforts Pam Reischauer spearheaded to provide standardized onboarding training for new CPs, enhancing CPs’ recognition within the community, and increasing voter registration and turnout.

Carol’s enthusiasm and leadership have been essential to KAD’s recent successes, and we look forward to seeing what her tenure as Vice-Chair brings to the organization as we work to #FinishTheJob!