As told to Emily Kestel Dalia Kyi is the founder and owner of Unuhe, an interpreting business that specializes in Karen, Karenni, Burmese and Chin languages. She was born in Myanmar (Burma) and moved with her family to the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand to flee the war. Kyi Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel Jo Allen is a nonbinary entrepreneur who started their photography business, Jovisuals, primarily as a way to help LGBTQ people feel valued, empowered and visible. In 2016, they were diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt lymphoma. Allen also works as a communications fellow with Future Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel Maria Gonzalez-Alvarez is a disaster case manager for the tornado and derecho programs at Mid-Iowa Community Action in Marshalltown. She is the co-founder and co-organizer of Immigrant Allies, which is a resource organization that helps immigrant families that formed after the ICE raid at the Read more…
By Emily Kestel Last year, to launch the Fearless initiative, we introduced you to 12 fearless Iowa women. Together, they were courageous, honest, confident, persistent, brave, purposeful, daring, resilient, authentic, unselfish, passionate and persistent. The six people we talked to this year are no different. They’ve taken big risks, they Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel Suzan Erem is an organizer and writer. In 2015, she co-founded the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, which is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting land to grow healthy food. She continues to serve as its executive director. She lives in Cedar County. The following story has Read more…
By Emily Blobaum, Fearless editor Last month, Business Record Editor Emily Barske spoke with LaNisha Cassell, executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa, about the topic of confidence. Below are highlights. On what confidence means: “For me it’s understanding and valuing what my strengths and capabilities are and Read more…
By Emily Blobaum, Fearless editor Earlier this month, The 19th – a national nonprofit news organization that covers the intersections of gender, politics and policy – hosted its annual virtual summit. More than 50 speakers, including Billie Jean King, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Commerce Secretary Gina Read more…
By Emily Blobaum Cheltzie Miller-Bailey had big dreams when she was young – she would have her doctorate by age 30 and would become a CEO someday. Growing up in West Des Moines’ Valley Junction neighborhood in a single-parent family that lived below the poverty line, she thought that those Read more…
By Brooke Westphalen (she/her/hers), development and communications coordinator Editor’s note: Gender-specific language is used in some instances as a reflection of statistics shared and the women-centered focus of the Fearless publication. When possible, “youth” is used to be more inclusive. The author recognizes that not all people who menstruate identify as girls or Read more…
Karen Mackey has been the executive director of the Sioux City Human Rights Commission for 16 years. She is one of the co-founders of the Siouxland Pride Alliance, which is a grassroots LGBTQ organization that connects the community through resources, opportunities and events. A member of the Santee Sioux Tribe, Read more…