I was born at St. Francis Hospital, and raised off of 9th Avenue. My great-grandfather moved to Beech Grove to work on the railroad in 1907, and the Strattons have been here ever since. My grandma, Donna, worked at the high school, and my grandfather, Benny, was a firefighter for the city for many years until he retired. He worked at Kroger to stay busy and became so well known in the community that they put him on their billboards. My parents, Mark and Monica, are both teachers, and my dad is finishing up his 24th year at Roncalli High School.
I graduated from UIndy with a B.S. in Communication and went on a few years later to get my M.F.A. in Producing for Film and Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
I’ve never been one to shy away from hard work or new experiences. I worked my way through college at the Greenwood Park Mall while also holding multiple media internships that helped me secure a job after graduation.
While at SCAD, I served as a student mentor while completing my courses and my thesis. I also co-founded a small production company to produce work outside of class. You may recognize Jecobi Swain – who was in the second short film I ever produced – from shows like Obi-Wan and Home Economics. One of my favorite experiences from SCAD was interning for Google/YouTube.
After completing my master’s degree, I moved to Los Angeles and lived there for 3 years until 2020. While I was there I had the privilege of being able to help out the community through opportunities that came from both my positions with Amazon Hub Locker+ and Amazon Studios.
After coming back home to Beech Grove, it was clear to me that I wanted to stay. I opened Silver Linings Coffeehouse on Main Street in October of 2021. I saw a need in the community for a place for both adults and students where they could come and feel welcome to sit and stay awhile. After meeting and talking with new neighbors over the past year and a half, I made the decision to run for Clerk Treasurer as a way that I can be more involved in the community by applying the skillsets I have toward serving the city.
I have been involved in this community as long as I can remember. My great-uncle, Gene Humphrey, had me volunteering for the Lion’s Club with him by the time I turned 4. Each day that I meet someone new and hear their concerns and aspirations for the city, the more excited I am for Beech Grove’s future.
If you have any questions or would like to meet with me prior to November 7th, please reach out. I would love to speak with you.
Paid for and authorized by Stratton for Clerk
Samantha S. Stratton 