BIOS
Emily Guthrie, Director
Emily Guthrie joined Safety Town in 1984 when she was the Lincoln School representative. She became chairman in 1985. Currently serving as Director, she manages the registration of campers and teen volunteers and hires the Camp Leader and Teen Aide.
Emily has been active in school and City issues since she moved to Evanston. She served as Third Ward Alderman from 1993-97. In 1992 she worked with the family of Warren Cherry to create the scholarship fund in his name and served as its first president.
In 2007, she worked with a group that wanted to keep the Civic Center at 2100 Ridge by putting a referendum question on the ballot. In 2010, she chaired the group that worked to keep the library branches from closing and raised $150,000 for salaries.
After the November 2018 referendum directing the City to save the Harley Clarke building, she is working to fulfill that 80%+ affirmative vote. In June 2023, she was re-elected president of Evanston Lake House and Gardens for a second term.
She brought together a group in 2013 to revive the New Year's Eve celebration of the arts known as First Night Evanston and after two terms as president, currently serves as its vice president.
She is a real estate agent, attorney, yoga instructor at the Evanston Park District Levy Center and the mother of two ETHS (and Safety Town) graduates.
Camp Leader 2024
Alyssa Kimmel, 21, will be Camp Leader this summer. She volunteered at Safety Town as a teen. And she is a third generation Evanstonian.
She will be a senior at University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall, majoring in elementary education with a minor in ESL and education policy.
From Alyssa:
"I'm so happy to be a part of Safety Town this summer. I hope to create an environment where everyone has opportunities to learn and grow, and most importantly, have fun!"
Teen Aide
Jacob Potter, 16, will be working with Alyssa this summer as the Teen Aide.
He is certified in CPR and First Aid, Poison Control and as a Red Cross Babysitter. He is also certified as a Mandated Reporter,
His awards at ETHS include honor roll and Asian Student honor Roll. He is a varsity gymnast and IHSA Academic All-American Athlete.
