Believing in giving back to her community, Kirsten has volunteered her time with many different groups and organizations, both in Menlo Park and in San Mateo County.  
In Menlo Park, she was a member of the Conflict Resolution Committee, which helped Menlo Park neighbors resolve their disputes.  When the City decided to have Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center handle those issues, Kirsten still wanted to remain active in the community.  She was then appointed to the Housing Commission, where she served for several years.  Kirsten was next appointed to the Planning Commission in 2004.  She has been serving on this Commission since then and was Chair of the Commission in 2007.
Kirsten also gives back to the community by volunteering her legal services at Haven House, here in Menlo Park, through the San Mateo County Bar Association.  She has also been a member of the San Mateo County Legal Aid Luncheon Committee, that diligently raises money to help people obtain legal services, who otherwise could not, in our County, for the last twelve years.

She was on the Board of Directors of Sor Juana Inez, a battered women’s service agency in San Mateo County.  As a San Mateo County Commissioner on the Commission on the Status of Women, she was elected President for two consecutive years by fellow Commissioners.

Over a decade of service to the community:
2009-2010 : Haven House, Legal Services Volunteer
2004-2010 : Menlo Park Planning Commissioner, Chair 2007
2004-2005 : Laurel School PTO, Financial Secretary
2003-2006 : National Women’s Political Caucus, San Mateo County
2003-2004 : AYSO, Region 109, Menlo Park & Atherton, Soccer Coach 
2003-2004 : Menlo Park Housing Commissioner
2002-2005 : League of Women Voters, South San Mateo County, Member
2002-2003 : San Mateo County Citizens Academy, Graduate
2001-2006 : San Mateo County Bar Association, Committee Delegate
2001-2003 : Menlo Park Mediation Commissioner
1998-2001 : Battered Women’s Service Agency, Board Member
1998-1999 : San Mateo County Prenatal to Three, Adopt-A-Family
1997-2010 : San Mateo County Legal Aid Society, Fundraising Committee
1996-2004 : Commission on the Status of Women, President 2000-2002