I wasn’t born in Winona, but have lived here for most of my life. As a young mother, I was extremely grateful for Winona’s ECFE program, and have always wanted to give back to the community. It feels like my time has come. I have experienced mental health and substance use issues from every angle possible, and have found that since losing my firstborn son to fentanyl poisoning what helps me most is to feel like I’m helping to provide solutions to this major epidemic. Educating people about the dangers of illicit drugs is one of the ways I feel I can make a difference and hopefully prevent more mothers from living through this horrible pain I have experienced. I wish to help make Winona, and the world, a place where people feel safe to express their needs and concerns without being met with prejudice and stigmas, and to learn new coping skills other than using substances. I am certified as a Peer Recovery Specialist in the state of MN.
