Kristen Dart was born and raised in Saratoga Springs. She has long been an advocate for equality and justice.
Kristen is a fifth generation Saratogian. Her father was a public educator in Saratoga Springs for 38 years and her mom was employed by the local banking industry. Kristen currently chairs the Saratoga Springs inaugural Civilian Review Board. She also serves on the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee and previously served on the Police Reform Task Force. Kristen has been deeply engaged in the community from an early age. During her senior year of high school she suggested the city’s Charter Review Commission add public comment as a required part of City Council meetings. In addition to her engagement in government she has volunteered her time coaching youth sports.
While Kristen has always had a deep dedication to her hometown, she spent a little over five years in Providence, RI. While there, she was the RI community organizer for Planned Parenthood Southern New England (PPSNE).
At PPSNE she coordinated their Generation Action interns, lobbied the General Assembly, coordinated the RI Religious Coalition for Reproductive Freedom and had a leading role in Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island’s election efforts. She moved on to become the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Mayor Jorge Elorza. In her role with the Mayor of Providence, she helped create the Police Community Relations Act, and successfully lobbied for an increase to English as a Second Language (ESL) funds for the Providence school district and a $20 million bond for the Providence Port. Before returning home, she served as Deputy Director of Policy for the RI House of Representatives. Currently she serves as Vice President of Political Affairs for Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts.
Kristen’s passion for public service comes from a long family history of fighting for civil rights and justice.
Her grandfather, Clarence Dart, Sr was a decorated Tuskegee Airmen. She serves on the board of Public Wise, a non-profit committed to equity in democracy, and is the Corresponding Secretary for the Albany Chapter of The Girl Friends, Inc, one of the oldest and most highly respected social organizations of African American women in the United States. She is an avid college sports fan, and enjoys traveling and hosting family and friends for meals. She holds a BA in history and Spanish from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA.
