Katie Hasty

CANDIDATE STATEMENT

After 25 years as a journalist and analyst working in media/tech, I started my first small business here in Lawrence this year; my company trains people how to use AI ethically. I'm currently Vice Chairman of an executive committee for the Sierra Club, having volunteered with them and local-focused food rescue orgs like After the Harvest, Urban Produce Push, Campus Kitchens, and Excess Food Network for many years. On top of mentoring college and high school students, I'm also a mom, living in a multi-generational household. I'm an expert in communications, branding, and data-driven decision-making.

As a Kansas native, I want to learn from my local community and help where I can to make orgs like The Merc thrive. I would like to serve on The Merc Co+op's Board of Directors because I can bring an even-headedness and lived insight to subjects like policy, food, environment, and waste — co-ops have a unique structure to make a real difference in these respects.