Deidre has dedicated her life to serving her community and that is what she will do as Governor starting on Day One.
Deidre was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and as a child moved with her family to Oklahoma. At eight years old, Deidre’s mother passed away shortly after giving birth to her younger sister. Overcoming this adversity at such a young age and seeing her dad be present for her and her siblings shaped who Deidre is today. Having her life turned upside down taught her to value life, value people and relationships, and how to overcome any hurdle thrown her way.
Deidre moved to Iowa to attend Drake University, where she majored in Broadcast News and Politics and graduated with a B.A. in Journalism. She fell in love with the state and chose Iowa as her home. An early social impact entrepreneur, while still a student, Deidre co-founded the nonprofit Back to School Iowa to support youth to continue in their educational endeavors. They have since given away school supplies to thousands of Des Moines students. During her time serving as a competitive coach for the East High girls basketball team, where she helped to shape the lives of the girls. While traveling the state, Iowans welcomed Deidre everywhere she went.
“I’m here because of my family. I’m here because of Iowa’s values. I’m here because Iowa has potential.”
Deidre built her business nearly 15 years ago to support the growing need for small businesses to access affordable marketing tools and successful business strategies during the brink of the Great Recession. Deidre has helped over 600 small businesses across Iowa. Her work continues to empower small business owners, and her passion for their success drives her to find new and innovative ways to help them grow. Her early work laid the foundation to help over 120 business owners during the pandemic gain access to much needed funding and resources.
“While I was not born in Iowa, I started my business here, met my husband here, and found my home here. I was introduced to a community who took care of people, who wrapped their arms around me, and created pathways of opportunity that I have been paying forward ever since. There is no other place I could have done all of this.”
Iowans have been through a lot these past few years, but the potential and desire to make their future even better still exists. Deidre believes in Iowans, and knows that by working together, change can happen.
“Our children are worth fighting for the best education system possible; we can put Iowa schools back on top by working with parents, teachers, and our local governments to solve our challenges and invest in our future. Small businesses, the backbone of our economy and small towns, are worth the investment and support; as I have done throughout my career, I will be a champion for their needs to get them resources to recover from the pandemic and continue to grow our economy. Too many of our rural hospitals are at risk. I will prioritize increasing access to affordable, quality healthcare and mental healthcare for all Iowans. Working families have been hit hard over the past few years. I will support them by closing our skills gap, wage gap, and keeping jobs here in Iowa.”
Deidre knows firsthand that what Iowans want is for our government to focus on our common needs, not the small differences that divide us. But government only works well if it’s led well. That is not what we are seeing in Iowa today, where our Governor foments partisanship and pits Democrats and Republicans against one another for political gain.
THAT’S WHY DEIDRE IS READY TO SERVE IOWA AS OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.