"If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the field. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere." - Abby WambachOn December 12, 2014, my life changed. A gunman walked into a school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and opened fire, killing twenty first-graders and six educators in a matter of minutes. I recall how my blood ran cold when I realized that Sandy Hook School looked so much like my own kids' elementary school.I made a decision that day that I would do whatever I could to make sure this never happened again. I wanted to get into the game but I knew I needed to find my squad and learn more. When I found Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, I knew I'd found the best fit for me. Through my work with Moms Demand Action, I have found my voice, honed my skills, built relationships, and grown my platform to speak out for gun safety and many other issues about which I am passionate. I worked to strengthen the bench for progressive leadership in our state by finding my squad of driven, energetic, smart women and helping them find their own voices and talents.In 2018, I came off the bench in a big way by making a run for the Iowa Legislature against the Senate Majority Leader in a district where he'd never faced a Democratic opponent. And while that race did not result in a win for me, I accomplished more than I ever imagined including becoming the top fundraiser for the Democratic Senate Caucus, energizing the Democratic base in my mostly-Republican community by personally knocking more than 7,000 doors, and turning out enough support to come less than 1000 votes away from winning.After my race, I contemplated my next steps -- ways I could lead from the bench. As many opportunities opened up to me, I dove into serving my community by joining the boards of several non-profits and getting involved in the progressive cause by training, supporting, and encouraging other Democratic candidates to run for offices from school board to US Congress and Senate. I started a PAC to work on Democratic messaging strategy and raise funds for the 2022 election.Going deeper as a leader, in 2019, I enrolled in the Master of Arts in Communication, Public Policy and Advocacy degree program at Drake University. In 2021, I graduated with a 4.0 and was inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism Honor Society.It's 2023 and I'm ready to come off the bench again in a big way by helping your organization succeed and grow with equity and compassion by building relationships, developing new strategies and communicating shared values.