River Road

When I was a child, my mom would take my siblings and I for bike rides along the River Road just outside of St. Louis. I remember the incredible adventure I felt, just seven years old, of zooming up and down hills along the pulses of sunlight through the leaves above. All along my journey next to me rode the Mississippi River. It always seemed to have a life of its own, teeming with activity and action. Growing up in St. Louis, I learned stories of the great confluence, explorers, and ancient cultures all united by this river. As I got older, I continued exploring the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and the communities alongside them. I have visited both of their headwaters and taken many journeys along them. The stories continue to fascinate me. Music like Ferde Grofe’s “Mississippi Suite” and books like “Undaunted Courage” wrap up my imagination in the glory and goodness of the rivers. For these reasons and more, I’m extremely committed to their long-term health and that of the communities alongside them.