Karina Brown
At his 1961 Presidential inauguration, former President John F. Kennedy challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”
It is imperative that each of us is empowered to use our voices and experiences to contribute to the improvement of our communities.
SISU: (NOUN) FACING YOUR CHALLENGES WITH VALOR AND DETERMINATION
My mother, a Finnish immigrant taught me the importance of fighting for causes you believe in. Sisu is a Finnish term meaning to face your challenges with valor and determination. When my mom passed away in 2013 in the healthcare coverage gap, I knew I had to take action. I was invited to participate as one of the 5 citizen sponsors of the ballot initiative Proposition 3 to expand Medicaid. Thanks to the majority of Utah voters and the work of many advocates, Utah fully expanded Medicaid services to individuals earning up to 138% of the poverty level in January 2020.