Who is Cat Uden?
Leadership, Experience, and Community Involvement
- Senior Field Representative, Oceana 2018-present
- Teacher, Broward County Public Schools 2003-2018
- City of Hollywood Sustainability Advisory Committee
- Chair, City of Hollywood Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
- City of Hollywood Citizens Police Academy 2022
- Broward County Schools Human Relations Committee
- Leadership Hollywood Class 45, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
- Environment Day Chair, Leadership Hollywood, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
- Education Day Co-Chair, Leadership Hollywood, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
- Member and volunteer, South Broward High School PTSO
- Broward County Public Schools Green Advisory Committee
- West Lake Village Architectural Control Board
- Vice President, Stirling Elementary PTO
- Grade Chair, Stirling Elementary
- Chair, Executive Board, Surfrider Foundation Broward County Chapter
- Sierra Club Cypress Award 2021
- P3 Eco Challenge Award, Broward County Schools
- National Wavemaker Award, Surfrider Foundation
- Member and volunteer, Hollywood Women's Club
- Member, Hollywood Lakes Civic Association
- 2024 Environmental Champion Award, Broward Sierra Club
- 2025 Honoree, Broward County Commission on the Status of Women
- Member. Hollywood Historical Society
Catherine “Cat” Uden
Cat Uden’s family has a background in public service. Her father worked as a physician specializing in public health, serving as a Peace Corps doctor in Africa, and leading healthcare projects internationally. Her mother has spent many years volunteering for organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and Mustard Seed in Jamaica, regularly returning to Jamaica every year to contribute to housing initiatives and provide skills training for residents and staff. Because of her parents, Cat has a strong desire to serve her community.
She relocated from Virginia to Florida to study at Florida International University, aiming to become a teacher or school guidance counselor. Cat views schools as essential for both academics and social growth, fostering independence and character. Strong education and career preparation improve socioeconomic outcomes and benefit society as a whole.
She earned a Psychology degree before completing elementary education , courses at FIU and Barry University. A District 1 resident in Hollywood for over 20 years, Cat lives with her husband, two sons, and their rescue dog (Holly). Her older son graduated from South Broward and FSU; her younger son attends South Broward High School.
Cat taught in the Broward County Public Schools for 15 years, mainly at Stirling Elementary. Cat was a competitive stand up paddle racer. She witnessed plastic pollution in our waterways and began volunteering for Surfrider Foundation. She later became Chair of the Surfrider Foundation Broward County Chapter, where she launched an Ocean Friendly Restaurant Program, which encouraged restaurants to reduce single-use plastics, and started a Blue Water Task Force lab to test Broward beaches for bacteria. Cat has also led numerous waterway and beach cleanups.
Cat has served on the City of Hollywood Sustainability Advisory Committee, contributing recommendations to the City Commission regarding environmental goal development and implementation strategies. During her tenure, she also supported initiatives to promote environmental awareness through public events and webinars.
Cat brings considerable legislative experience. Since 2018, after leaving teaching she has worked as Florida Field Representative for an international nonprofit organization focused on protection of the oceans through policy change. Cat collaborates with the community, business leaders, partners, and lawmakers to pass environmental legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. This work brings her to many governmental meetings, conferences, and environmental summits. Cat understands Florida’s unique environmental challenges. She has successfully helped to pass bipartisan legislation local, statewide, and federally.
As Chair of the Hollywood’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, Cat contributed to updating the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and updating ocean recreation rules, including expanding paddle zones. Most mornings, she is enjoying paddling and snorkeling off Hollywood Beach.
Cat is a passionately dedicated advocate for the preservation of our beaches, parks, green spaces, as well as a proponent of responsible development. In recent years, she has led the opposition to a private condo tower on our public oceanfront land, while also supporting smart redevelopment initiatives.
Residents recognize Cat as a dedicated public servant who will represent them effectively on the City Commission. She earned the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board Endorsement during her 2024 mayoral campaign. Cat is a leader committed to informing, involving, and empowering residents to help the city achieve its full potential.
“My mission is to make Hollywood a clean, safe, livable, and family friendly city. I have the passion, the ability, and the skills to ensure that Hollywood thrives now and in the future for all residents and businesses.“- Cat Uden
Endorsements
Rick Goldman
Owner of Advertising Excellence
Hollywood Resident & Hollywood Business Owner
I met Cat several years ago when I was at Arts Park waiting to speak to the mayor and commissioners about the 1301 South Ocean Drive project. Cat spoke elequently about why the city should not give a 99 year lease to a real estate developer so that they could build a private condo on public land.
I support Cat because she has always fought for what is best for Hollywood residents. For example, she organized people who volunteered to get signatures to allow us to vote on allowing the private condo to be built on public land. Cat gets things done!
