Why I’m running and my vision for Johnson County

“Growing up as a military child, I was fortunate enough to experience life in many different parts of the world, including Southern California, Japan, and Okinawa. These formative experiences have given me a unique and global perspective that I bring to my work. Having moved to North Liberty at 14 and settled in Iowa City at 17, I have now lived in Johnson County for most of my life. Over the last 26 years, I have experienced our community from many different angles: as a student, a small business owner, a single parent, a public assistance recipient, a domestic violence survivor, and a University of Iowa employee. These experiences have given me a profound understanding of the struggles faced by our community members, as well as the services that are available to support them. 

I am proud to have served as a City of Iowa City Climate Ambassador, Iowa City Community Police Review Board (CPRB) Chair, and University of Iowa Safety and Security Committee Chair. Currently, I serve as the Vice Chair of the University of Iowa Council on the Status of Women, placing me at the heart of DEI leadership at the University as part of the University of Iowa DEI Success Collaborative. This collaborative focuses on information sharing, partnership opportunities, skill building/education, and institutional change. Additionally, I am the Founder and Director of the Corridor Community Action Network (CCAN), an organization committed to facilitating resident participation and empowerment in the Iowa Corridor. Through CCAN, we’ve actively taken steps to promote individual and community equity, enhancing the overall quality of life. Our initiatives encompass policy and advocacy work, service projects, volunteer efforts, and the formation of alliances, partnerships, and coalitions with other organizations.