Cindy Alexander may be the wife of state Sen. JD Alexander, but she maintains her own identity with her various involvements with local organizations. When she isn't working with the Lake Wales Arts Center, Bok Tower Gardens and other nonprofit groups, Alexander is spending time with her two children.
Name: Cindy Alexander
Age: 49
Family: Husband, JD Alexander; children, Britton, 20; Keaton, 17.
Resident of: Highland Park (on the outskirts of Lake Wales) for 10 years, but has also lived in Frostproof and Lake Wales.
Education: Double major in mathematics and economics from Agnes Scott College, an all-women's college in Decatur, Ga.
What keeps you busy? I am a full-time volunteer. I volunteer at the Lake Wales Art Center, All Saints' Academy, Bok Tower Gardens, the Frostproof Care Center and the Lake Wales Care Center.
What do you do for all of them? For the Lake Wales Art Center, I am the president of the board of directors for the second year. It is more than an art gallery. It's a center. We have musical performances, educational classes, lectures, book reviews and signings, and a variety of activities for everyone in the community. It is very different than a museum. We have an emphasis in art and children's education. When we book a musical group, we reach out to the children in the Lake Wales area to share it with them and show them how music is made.
You seem to have such a strong passion for this Lake Wales Art Center. Why? We have extraordinary talent from very young children from perhaps low socio-economic backgrounds, and to see them strive for awards - when they win, you know they're gonna use that money for more lessons, and to see the parents support them and make sacrifices. That is warming. I've always loved the performing arts especially, ever since I was a little girl.
How do you serve All Saints' Academy? I am on their board of directors and have served as development chair for 10 years. I am excited about the future of ASA because the education is always first, and our county needs that.
What do you do over at Bok Tower Gardens? I serve on the board of directors as well.
And at the Lake Wales and Frostproof Care Centers? They are both small nonprofits in need of specialized work, like strategic planning, and they need a service provided that won't take away from their budget. I can help them without using up their resources. I feel they are critical to the areas they're located in, and they're making a difference in their communities. It is a critical basic-needs service. People need that now more than ever.
Where did you get your experience to help all of these nonprofit groups? I was the chief operating officer for the United Way for almost 20 years. I still continue on their board and work with fundraising and major gifts. My life at United Way seems to keep connecting, like at the Lake Wales Art Center. We can provide services to the kids in Lake Wales who perhaps can't make the trip to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
What's it like to be the spouse of a state senator? Ever since JD's been in office, I've always had my own identity. It's funny sometimes when folks see us together and they say, "You two are married?" because everyone knows me from what I do.
What's one of the perks of being married to someone who holds a prominent position in the state Legislature? I have a direct line to my state senator. But, when he is on business of the state, I don't call him. One benefit I can say is that my children have grown up with JD being in office, they are so much more seasoned politically than I was at the age of 35. They see what their father does and how things go from the national level to the state level. It's been really cool to watch my kids, in their own individual ways, formulate their own political views.
What would one of the downsides be? I think folks have a real misunderstanding of political life. JD will call me at 10:30 at night when he finished work in Tallahassee and I will hear the lady in the drive-thru say, "That'll be $7.99. Please pull around." And I'll say, "Are you at Burger King again?"
Since you're spinning so many plates, how do you relax? I love football. I count down to college football. I'll watch it from noon to 9:30 at night. My dad played football in college for Clemson University. I loved going to the games with my dad growing up, and I didn't even go to a school with a football team. I also love it when the four of us are all together. It's really special.
Since you're originally from Augusta, Ga., what do you like about Polk County? There's just a real sense of community here. All the cities get together and volunteer and lead all the cities in Polk County from all walks of life. I see results of that cooperation, and it's good.
