❤️OKC is for everyone!
In my free time I love to read and am a member of a book club. I garden and spend a lot of time outdoors. I'm happiest when there's time for real work in my kitchen, I love to cook for others! I also like to long distance walk and enjoy yoga and strength training and if any of that can ever be done with a friend by my side, it's pure bliss.
I’ve been married 23 years to Ty Beasley. He works as a Special Education Teacher at Norman High School, and he volunteers a lot of his time in SOKC and the Norman community. He has his Masters in Transition Education from the University of Oklahoma. Together, we have three boys, Gabe, Wesley and Max who attend John Rex Charter in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. As a family, we are all involved in Cub Scouts and BSA Troop 180 OKC. We love to travel, camp and explore Oklahoma! We have three Dachshunds - Buddy, Ellie and LuLu and they're spoiled rotten like all dogs should be and like to go where we go. We're raising our family in a home my grandparents built many years ago. We both have deep roots in south Oklahoma City.
I studied political science at Oklahoma City Community College and University of Central Oklahoma where I received my B.A. I work as a corporate and estate planning paralegal. I started my small business in 2007 where I continue to serve small businesses and individuals with estate planning needs.
I've always been fascinated with civil rights and liberties. I like to learn and read old case law and dissenting opinions of the SCOTUS. I like to dive into projects I might not know much about (yet), but with my skillset and years of experience, I don't mind tackling large or complicated projects. There's a lot to learn from where we've been and I'm thankful for all those who trailblazed - there's still so much work left undone and I'll do my part to hold the door for others coming in behind us. Future generations will thank us.
I’m an advocate and volunteer and at times it becomes my full-time job.
I volunteer a lot to serve Oklahoma's littlest guys and gals. I held a Governor appointed position on the Interagency Coordinating Council, appointed by former Governor Mary Fallin. The Council is a required component of federal law I.D.E.A., I represented a parent of a child 12 years or younger. The Council regulates SoonerStart, a program for children birth to three born in Oklahoma with disabilities and developmental delays. I also once served on the Governor's sub-education committee alongside many other leaders in our state. Our goal was to provide insight for the budget.
I served on Sunbeam Family Service’s Policy Council while Max attended Head Start and I currently serve on the Public Policy Committee for the Arc of Oklahoma, Oklahoma's largest advocacy group for those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and I spend a lot of time volunteering in south Oklahoma City, cleaning up our parks and playgrounds. My husband and I both served on a community insight planning committee for Ruby Grant Park in Norman. The developers of the park took great pride and years of planning to build it to be the most inclusive park in the nation and if you ask me, it is! A park others look to for example. I've grown to love parks and have learned most are not as accessible as they could be. I'd like to change that! I'd like to see Oklahoma City be the most accessible city in the nation and I believe it can be done with hard work and thoughtful planning.
Accountability! I'm a strong believer that those in elected leadership positions be held accountable and I expect nothing different for the City Council. I want to know how we can do better and be better with the information we have for the betterment of our future generation.
Chair of the Family Advisory Council at
Oklahoma Children's Hospital at OU Health
I’m the Chair of the Family Advisory Council at the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health. As a group of dedicated volunteers, together, we've offered insight for among other things, a better built hospital that's more accessible.
May 12, 2017, I decided change was needed when I realized Max, our youngest, would need better access while waiting at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital – our home away from home. I had a bad day with accessibility roadblocks - one after another. One of those days where nothing seemed to go right, but it all was preventable. The chain of events that took place that day has put me on a path to advocacy for accessibility in Oklahoma, and it’s been salve for my soul serving alongside some of Oklahoma City's finest, my service has put me in a position to make real change for the people of Oklahoma. I like to say I became an advocate for Oklahomans that day.
I also learned what exceptional leadership looks like and have enjoyed the work and getting to know many families and city leaders along the way. We are blessed to have such amazing people working for us in Oklahoma City!
I'm a disability rights advocate! Max is 6 years old, and he was born with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and Arnold Chiari Malformation II. In so many ways, he’s a typical child, but he has a few complications from his spina bifida that affect his gross motor and mobility and the nerve damage from his defect caused him to have a trabeculated bladder and neurogenic bowel. He’s catheterized every four hours for bladder and kidney health, and he’ll need to utilize a changing table longer than the typical child until he's fully rehabilitated from many surgeries and setbacks.
Over time, Ty and I discovered not everywhere provided access to a changing table that holds more than 50 pounds and even worse, nowhere (other than the OKC ZOO at the time and a few private facilities that I’m aware of) provided access to an adult-size changing table. We realized early on that somewhere down the road and not too far off, our family would have a serious accessibility issue. I’d like to think one day others can spend the day at any one of our parks, buildings or events, and not be on a time restraint, can visit our public facilities and attractions (many that are funded by our tax dollars) and not have to change a diaper in a vehicle in a parking lot or, worse, be directed to a restroom floor because there aren't accommodations.
Once you dive into this and really grasp the severity, you’ll realize how isolated so many are from society and it’s preventable!
I'm going to change the narrative in Oklahoma City with your help! We should be able to enjoy all facilities as a family just like most everyone else does! Max is aware of his personal needs, and we refuse to change him on a dirty restroom floor... because it’s undignified and unequitable! It's gross. We’re exposed to a world not many are. If this is your first-time hearing that there’s a lack of accessibility in public restrooms, it’s a societal issue I'm going to change, and it can only be done in Oklahoma City by a collaborative effort of dedicated residents, advocates and city leaders ALL coming together to make change.
I have a lot of irons in the fire on all levels of government and it's taught me a great deal.
I'm currently working with the United States Department of Interior to improve accessibility at our National Parks. I believe parks are for everyone and all should be planned for!
Working with those in all levels of government has taught me a great deal and I've learned how to navigate city code, statutes and federal laws. My work as a paralegal for nearly twenty years will serve the Council well.
I'm also working with multiple city and state agencies in Oklahoma to improve many of our city and state-owned facilities. I've brought much needed change to the Oklahoma State Capitol (a work in progress), the Oklahoma History Center, the Will Rogers World Airport and Metropolitan Library System to name a few, and more with the help of MANY dedicated leaders and advocates in the state.
I have a good idea of what equal access and participation means for those living with disabilities and with small change, big barriers can be removed for the benefit of all.
Max's Law was drafted in 2019 and introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature in the 2020 Regular Session. We believe Oklahoma can be built for all and it will be. 93% of our legislature is committed to putting an end to Oklahomans directing other Oklahomans to the floor in a restroom of our publicly funded state-owned facilities! We all agree Oklahomans deserve better.
There's so much good coming to Oklahoma City thanks to incredible leadership! I've met some beautiful souls along this journey, and I'd like to have a voice at the table where it matters most. When we first opened the Oklahoma City Convention Center, leadership was made aware our brand new $288 million building had a barrier to access on the first day! Together, with city leaders, we're working to remove it and provide much needed restroom access for all and I'm going to make sure all other new buildings and our city parks are barrier free too.
The Will Rogers World Airport is one of 17 airports in the US that provide equal access to restrooms. Leadership at the airport acted quickly to remove the barrier and now Will Rogers World Airport is one that many are looking to for example. We have AMAZING leadership in Oklahoma City! I'd like to continue our work together to do better.
My top priority is being accessible to YOU, the southside Oklahoma City residents of Ward 5. I want to hear what's important to you and I will represent Ward 5 well! I believe all phone calls and emails should be responded to in an appropriate time frame, after all, I work for YOU.
I'd be honored to represent your voice for Ward 5 as your Councilwoman, and I need your vote on February 14, 2023!