#PeopleofNEI: Stephanie, finding the light

Northeast Indiana is evolving. These are the people shaping its future. #PeopleofNEI

This week’s feature:

Stephanie, 34, has defied all odds to be alive today. Born into a cycle of physical and substance abuse, she credits her faith to seeing her through. She is going to be spending spring and summer in Washington D.C. to learn about advocacy for sustainable agriculture in our food systems in Northeast Indiana. “My childhood was traumatic. The odds were definitely against me. Everything was broke and I have lost track of how many times I should have died. I don’t want the cycles in my family to define who I am. I am mixed and I am proud of that. My heritage includes Native American (Cherokee, Apache, and Blackfoot), Ethiopian, and French. Being mixed in Northeast Indiana is challenging. More often than not I am the only person of color (and definitely the only woman of color) at professional events or meetings. It’s hard not to look around and count. I used to see it as a barrier that kept me from participating. It impacted how I dressed and did my hair to blend in but now I embrace it and use it. I find that people don’t often have a professional conversation with a woman of color and I feel the pressure to be a good example and set the tone for those that follow. I owe everything to my faith. It means that I’m never alone. I am loved and special. I have a purpose. That’s mine and no one can take that away from me no matter how much they try to block it or discredit it. It’s not about others. In the darkest times there’s always that light. If you sit quiet enough you can find it. It’s the light that doesn’t waver. My dream right now is to create a sustainable position in our community in an impactful way that implements a good policy council for our food systems. It can be supported and endorsed by the government, the business community, and the public so that people can make a dignified living in the food industry. These people deserve our support and respect just like a teacher, a firefighter, or a police officer. I am going to D.C. to learn firsthand from leaders about food advocacy and policy development. I love food and you can’t be your best self if you don’t have proper nutrition. If you nourish your body then you can nourish your soul. #PeopleofNEI

A post shared by Input Fort Wayne (@inputfortwayne) on Apr 30, 2018 at 8:52pm PDT

#PeopleofNEI: Stephanie, finding the light

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