The first half of my life was devoted to making a difference in public service. I spent a decade of my career as a senior Congressional staff member and policy analyst before winning a seat on my local city council, followed by 8 years of service as a Maryland state legislator. My areas of policy expertise are health care, environment, and economic development. I am the proud sponsor of laws that have increased access to better health insurance coverage for young adults, low-income and pregnant women, and middle class families. I launched a campaign to successfully protect our state’s watersheds and aquifers from the dangers of fracking. And I have been a leading voice in expanded economic opportunities for all.

Coming from a long line of family farmers, returning to my land has been a big heart opener for me. In addition to managing our farm operations at Apotheosis and co-facilitating our retreat offerings, I am the CEO and founder of a non-profit organization whose mission is to lessen the partisan divide, encourage community connection, collaborate for innovative solutions to our collective challenges, and foster dialogue that brings heart wisdom into civic engagement. I am a trained educational facilitator in Therapeutic Horticulture and provide program offerings sponsored by my non-profit organization in collaboration with the farm’s mission of harnessing the power of nature to heal us.