Alverta Jones is the eldest of eight children born to Reverend & Mrs. Oscar Palmer in Kingston, NY. She was educated in the Kingston Public Schools and SUNY at New Paltz. At SUNY New Paltz she majored in Political Science and her minor was Black Studies. While a student at SUNY New Paltz, Alverta felt she was blessed to have had many wonderful instructors and professors. According to Alverta, “Each one in his or her own way inspired her to want to know more, do more.” It was while a student at SUNY New Paltz, that Alverta was able to participate in the Model UN at Harvard University. The thrill of her life.
Alverta is the mother of five wonderful children and the grand-mother of ten awesome grandchildren.. Two of her grand-children are in college/university, one attends Middlebury in MA and the other attends Wesleyan in CT. She has two grandsons in Saugerties High School, two grand-daughters attending public schools in CT. Alverta also has grandchildren attending school in Port Ewen, Albany and in Long Island. She is very proud of her children and grandchildren. They are all a source of pride, wonderment and encouragement to her.
Alverta began her life as a public servant in her Father’s house. It was he who taught her how to serve and wait. It wasn’t that he ever said do this or do that but it was the life he lived before Alverta and her siblings. He ministered to all who came to him in one way or another. He was interested in their well being and he was interested in the well being of the community they lived in. Whether the people were seeking answers to a problem, or seeking comfort from life, or just needed an ear to hear or a head to nod with understanding her Father was their man, their representative.
And so it is with Alverta. She longs to help translate the needs of her community into positive actions as an Ulster County Legislator. The interests of her community in economic stability and opportunity are her interests. The interests of her community in affordable housing are her interests. The interests of her community in veteran’s and senior affairs are her interests also. The interests and concerns of the community in renewable energy technologies and education are also her interests and concerns and together she believes, “We can build a better community not only for ourselves but for the generations coming behind us. Using our corporate intelligence and our corporate wills we can find our way to a better quality of life while protecting our environment and natural resources. And if we can begin now and do it the right way future generations will be thankful and obligated to insure a quality future for those coming behind them.” |
