Hello

My Story

Bridge Builder who Gets Things Done: I grew up as the second oldest in a single-parent home, and saw early on how marginalized communities, whether poor white, black or brown, stay power-less until they pull together. That schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and cities – anyplace we call home– are more resilient when everyone knows they belong. In 2016, while serving as the Director of Social Justice Ministries for the Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic Diocese, I worked with pastors, families who were being targeted by the Trump presidential campaign, community foundations and nonprofit leaders from across NE Indiana to create what became a state-wide community organizing initiative called “Faith in Indiana.” With chapters in Gary, South Bend, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis, this effort is still today re-balancing the scales of power back into the hands of every-day people. 

Veteran: I enlisted in the US Navy as an 18-year old, was in Boot-Camp when 9-11 happened, and deployed overseas for two tours. As one of 100 females on a ship of 2000, the military taught me to forge ahead through adversity by staying true to who you are. With the help of the G.I. Bill, I became the first person in my family to graduate college, and study multiple cultures and languages abroad. These experiences remind me daily to think globally, and act locally. I believe Fort Wayne is in a position to write a story that has state-wide, and even national ramifications. 

“Woman of the People”: My 10-year track record as a grassroots organizer will bring a new kind of leadership into the body that oversees approximately $190Million annual budget, and sets the culture for public safety and public health in our city. Our best solutions come from involving those most impacted by the issue in the problem solving process. This has been true for the victories of our past– whether in achieving Covid Testing on the SE side; creating the public call to consciousness that led the FWPD to creating the H.A.R.T. Hope and Recovery Team program; re-unifying immigrant families facing deportation and fighting for humane and fair working conditions for Fort Wayne’s minority communities– and will be what further defines Ft Wayne as a city that leads other cities in its innovation. Innovation as we address questions like how we ensure we are investing in economic development that grows equitable housing and quality of life rather than displace current residents and businesses? In a state who's biggest growth sectors are the retail and service industries, how do we build up the nursing, mental health, and educator professions and family wage jobs we will need for a strong tomorrow? In order to get there, we will need a fresh leader who is audacious enough to say that what once worked is no longer sufficient. Probably no issue better illustrates my ability to challenge status quo narratives and worn-out approaches than the work I have co-led through the Help not Handcuffs Coalition. What was at the beginning of 2022 seen as a forgone conclusion - that Fort Wayne’s level of crime was on the rise and that we needed a new jail and it should be located in the SE quadrant - is today a full-bodied public conversation calling for a comprehensive study of the local criminal justice system, and public dollars to be invested in mental health cultures of care.

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Mom and Person of Faith: We are building a campaign that purposefully challenges the narrative that only those with the luxury of extra time and money can run for public office in Fort Wayne. I am running for office because I know of the anxiety that comes with balancing a household budget with rising cost of gas and food, wondering what the future of public education will look like for our young daughter, and the stress that comes with the struggle of finding affordable healthcare coverage. My Catholic faith has instilled in me the values of care for the common good, racial and economic justice, and dignity of every human life. I believe that a one-party controlled city, county or state government will always have a blind spot that eventually ends up being paid for by the poor. As your Fort Wayne City Councilwoman at Large I will work daily to build a safe, equitable, bold, inclusive and caring city for all of us, no exceptions.