City Council

 

Victoria Parks started her term on City Council in January 2022. Before that, she served as Commissioner Todd Portune's Chief of Staff from 2016-2019 and then was appointed to fill his spot on the Commission after his retirement.

As Commissioner, Parks focused on ways to spend public money wisely, and expanded opportunities for under-served communities. She led the charge in passing Racism as a Public Health Crisis, in Hamilton County. She also spearheaded #513survive, which provided a voice for the youth to express how they were feeling about COVID-19. She introduced, and passed, Juneteenth as a paid holiday for Hamilton County employees. She introduced Proclamations for  Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, and  Women's Equality Day, to name a few. 

Prior to her work with the County Commission, Parks served as Major Gifts Officer at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center where she fundraised and wrote grants to support its world class exhibits and programs.  From 2011-2015 Parks served as the Development Director at the Women's Crisis Center where she led award winning community outreach and fundraising campaigns to support its domestic violence and sexual assault shelters and programs in 13 counties of NKY and Buffalo Trace. 

Parks started her non-profit and government career as Community Outreach Representative for Congressman Steve Driehaus from 2010-2011, having worked in the corporate world for 30 years in customer service and marketing at United Parcel Service, Mitsubishi Electric Manufacturing and Cognis Corporation.  Parks is an enlisted United States Air Force Veteran having served honorably from 1976 -1980 where she earned E-4 ranking, was trained and served as Personnel Specialist.  She is awarded the Air Force Longevity Service Award and Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

An avid community volunteer, Parks currently serves as Board President, AMOS Project, past Parish Council at St. Joseph Catholic Church, The Women's Fund Advocacy Committee, past board member of The Archdiocese of Cincinnati Communication Commission, former Association of Fundraising Professionals Scholarship Director and Airport Greeter Committee, World Choir Games.

A life-long Cincinnatian, Parks grew up in West College Hill, (Steele Subdivision) attended St. Richard of Chichester, Our Lady of Angels, and graduated from Aiken High School in 1976.

She currently resides in College Hill and enjoys travel, reading, cooking and gardening, loves football, and spending time with her daughter, grandchildren, extended family and friends.