Accomplishments

Earned the B. Robert Lewis Award for authoring an ongoing $1M investment into heart health including identifying risk factors, prevention and coordinated care for physical and mental health.

Authored the creation of the Birth Justice Collaborative through a $10M investment into Maternal and Child Health - with the worst disparities in survival rates for caregivers and babies of Black and Indigenous birthing people, this investment is just the first step in reversing these devastating outcomes.  As a mom, it matters most to me that not only do we survive pregnancy and childbirth but also that future generations start out healthy and equitably.

Healthcare Reparations Exploration - I authored a pilot with the Healthcare Reparations Cooperative with an initial $250k to explore the institution of healthcare and its harmful impacts on Black and Indigenous communities.  We seek to answer many questions, one of which is what does it look like to take back our healthcare from systems of care and return to culturally normative healing practices.

After I authored the creation of the County's first Race Equity Advisory Council, this group of thought leaders has presented recommendations each year for the board to consider in order to eliminate race-based disparities countywide.  For two years in a row they've recommended exploration of reparations.  In 2025 I brought forward a Resolution that establishes that recommendation: The creation of the County's first Reparative Justice Research Task Force.

Earlier date for ethical closure of HERC - Ethical closure means we accelerate zero-waste in our County, partnering with our cities and holding big waste producers accountable so that we don't end up using more landfill acres while ending garbage incineration.  I amended our Solid Waste Plan to include a closure date as early as 2028.  In our solid waste policy for cities who contract with us to use the HERC, I amended language to enact stiffer penalties for cities who don't have strong zero waste policies in place.

Ordinance 18 allows for taxes to be collected for the purposes of zero waste, recycling and composting.  I authored a reimagining of this ordinance to collect more tax dollars from our largest waste producers because I believe we can all do our part, but the burden shouldn't be on the end-user.  In addition, County leadership will explore other waste ordinances for the same purpose.

Pushing back against historic harm caused by freeways - The Federal Highway Act of 1956 is a racist law that placed highways along redlined and segregated areas of our communities, smothering Black and Brown residents with polluted air.  I have sat on MNDoT's policy advisory council to push for a boulevard conversion through their Reimagining I94 project.  I am a strong advocate for repairing harm and the least our state agencies can do is reverse the devastating impacts of historical and institutional racism that persist today.

Hennepin County effectively ended homelessness for our Veterans!  Not only am I proud of this accomplishment, I believe we can use what we learned to end homelessness for all.

As Chair of the County's Housing and Redevelopment Authority we've invested millions into our housing continuum, began a new homeownership program to cap off our housing continuum and made good use of the funds we get through the Metro Housing Sales Tax.  We've increased funds for shelter operations, rental assistance and the creation of affordable and deeply affordable housing.

Nationally, I've been appointed as chair of the National Association of Counties' Community Economic and Workforce Development Committee twice.  Through this committee we tackle national housing issues allowing me to understand the needs of both urban and rural counties and put those needs into federal policy action.

I visited farming communities outside of District 4 to learn first hand sustainable methods of growing food that we can use right here on the Southside. 

Moving the county toward more acres of urban agriculture - The County has a goal of growing food on over 30,000 acres and I want to do more.  I am actively exploring purchasing vacant parcels in our district, partnering with farming communities outside of the county and more, so that all residents have access to low-cost, fresh, locally grown healthy foods.

Park and Portland Avenues will finally see safety improvements come to life in 2027.  I've led multiple community engagement sessions along with County staff to bring forth a vision of safety led by the residents who live along these corridors.  I'm proud to say that community voices led the safety designs the County will now be implementing.

For the first time in over a decade we updated our Toward Zero Deaths Plan.  This plan is rooted in the mission that no one should die on County roads and will put in place strategies and innovative solutions for safety on County roadways for all modes of transportation, moving away from car-centered communities. Whether you're walking or rolling, we're working to make our roads a safe space for you to move about.

After hearing from union leaders and learning of wages withheld from contracted workers, I authored a resolution that directs County staff to work with Union leaders, small business and others to draft a Responsible Contractor Policy.  This policy will protect contracted security and service staff from harmful practices. 

There is room to grow and I look forward to protecting construction and all workers from harmful policies and practices.

Substance use disorder has devastated so many residents of District 4.  We've recently learned from the Medical Examiner's office that, for the first time in several years, opioid overdose deaths are dropping.  While this is good news, and a testament to our investments in harm reduction, mental and behavioral health and more, the work is not done as one death is one too many.

We continue to invest $4M annually using opioid settlement funds to partner with community agencies who work with targeting communities to provide treatment, healing and outreach.

The work to break the stigma around seeking help and accessing treatment will continue and will be rooted in our shared humanity.

As a result of youth entering into our Juvenile Detention Center with higher needs for mental health services, Hennepin County has expanded our Behavioral Health Center to add a separate wing for youth who don't belong in jail. These are youth who need holistic care, wellness, love and treatment in order to live their fullest lives.