ABOUT YVONNE

Yvonne Flowers is a lifelong resident and 4-term City of Poughkeepsie 5th Ward Councilwoman. She is the daughter of Glenda Flowers and the late John M. Flowers Sr.

Yvonne is a proud graduate of Poughkeepsie City School District and a graduate of Dutchess Community College where she earned her A.A.S. degree in Accounting. Yvonne has been working at DCC for over 33 years as the college’s Grants and Contracts Finance Officer and former Supervisor of Student Accounts Office. She is also a homeowner and landlord in the City of Poughkeepsie for over 25 years.

While working at DCC, she represented CSEA Local 814 on several college committees and boards, co-founded and Chaired the Andre Taylor-Bond Endowed Scholarship Fund, Chaired the Black History Committee, and in 2016 she was awarded the 2015-16 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service for her superior performance and extraordinary achievements at DCC, one of the highest honors to receive in the SUNY college system.

Yvonne is dedicated and active in her community. Her ties to the community run deep and her commitment to help make improvements in Poughkeepsie is unwavering. Yvonne has served on numerous boards and committees throughout the years. She currently serves on the Dutchess County Board Ethics Board, R.E.A.L Skills Network Inc Board of Directors, Community Matters 2 Inc. Board of Directors and the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

While working as a Councilwoman, she served on the following committees:

• Co-Chair of the City of Poughkeepsie Procedural Justice Committee to help improve the Community Police Relations and helped create the City of Poughkeepsie Police Reform Plan

• Served on Pershing Ave “Parknership” committee to assist with Pershing Avenue Park Improvements

• Served on City of Pok COVID team to ensure residents received valuable information about testing and vaccine options

• Assisted Dutchess County with the Youth Initiative Training Program (a program that helps youth and police officers build positive relationships).

• Member of the City of Poughkeepsie Anti-Blight Task Force—to help reduce blighted properties in City of Pok

• Worked with Dutchess County Habitat for Humanity and Hudson River Housing to increase home ownership

• Member and current Chair of the City of Poughkeepsie Finance Committee

• Member of the City of Poughkeepsie American Rescue Plan Task Force—to award funding for special projects

• Member of the City of Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet—to help build an infrastructure of impactful services for our children and their families

Yvonne has work alongside her father for decades as he made a tremendous impact on the community. In 2015, after the death of her father, she joined her brother Frank Flowers in continuing their father’s legacy in promoting unity, hope, love and respect for one another throughout the City of Poughkeepsie and the Mid-Hudson region. She has helped organize and conducted several large community events such as; the JF Old Fashioned Easter Egg Hunt, Father’s Day Parade/Celebration, Community Day Picnic, the Thanksgiving and Christmas Eileen Hickey Dinners. Under the Christmas John Flowers Gift Giving program, Yvonne and her brother Frank collect and deliver gifts to hundreds of families through the Flowers Adopt a Family program. Yvonne also worked with REALSKILLS Network Inc in organizing the first Juneteenth celebration community event in Earline Patrice Park. She also worked with several organizations in organizing events in College Hill Park and Pershing Avenue Park. When Yvonne is not spending her time at work or in the community, she is enjoying quality time with her seven grandchildren.

Yvonne has proven throughout the years that she is truly a COMMUNITY SERVANT!