See the person.
People are not diagnoses, causes, or inspirational stories. Inclusion begins with knowing the individual.
03 / Inclusion & Impact
Belonging is not
the same as being included.
A personal commitment shaped by my youngest son, Cooper.
01 / Why this is personal
Cooper changed the way
I understand possibility.
Cooper has Down syndrome. Being his father has made questions of inclusion, expectations, dignity, and opportunity impossible to treat as abstractions.
Inclusion is often described as giving someone access to a room. That matters, but it is only the beginning. Real belonging means being known, expected, challenged, supported, and recognized for what you bring—not simply welcomed as an act of generosity.
This part of my work grows from that belief. It is personal, still developing, and meant to produce more than good intentions.
02 / A practical point of view
Move beyond
the invitation.
Expect contribution.
Belonging includes meaningful roles, real expectations, and the chance to shape what happens next.
Build it into practice.
Values become credible when they change opportunities, experiences, decisions, and everyday behavior.
03 / Evidence in action
Turning conviction
into something tangible.
Dolls that help more children see themselves.
A family-led fundraiser raised more than $5,000 to donate inclusive dolls to schools in the Rockwood School District—moving representation from an idea into classrooms and play.
Showing up for Cooper—and the community.
Each year, our family participates in Step Up for Down Syndrome and raises donations through Cooper’s team. It is a recurring way to support the Down syndrome community and invite others into a cause that is deeply personal to our family.
Helping emerging leaders own the room.
I continue to support FBLA as a competition judge and workshop presenter, helping students strengthen their ideas, communicate persuasively, and develop the confidence to make their work matter.
Current project
A family-led cookbook project
Our family is developing a cookbook project connected to Cooper, inclusion, and the stories that bring people together. The goal is to create something useful and joyful—not simply something that talks about inclusion from a distance.
More details, collaborators, and ways to participate will be added here as the project takes shape.
In developmentThis page will grow with the work.
Future initiatives, partnerships, talks, and resources will be documented here when they are ready to be shared.
Inclusion is not just being allowed into the room.
It is being treated as someone
the room would miss.
Have an aligned idea, organization, or project?