Lydia lives in Washington with her son, husband, and dog, dividing her time between the two rural communities of Walla Walla and Dayton. In her current role with the City of Walla Walla as Community Development Block Grant Coordinator, she administers federal funds for community development work that impacts low- and moderate- income residents.  Her work advances diverse projects including affordable housing and public facility and infrastructure improvements, as well as activities that impact economic development and essential public services – investments that strengthen the vitality of rural communities. 

Lydia’s commitment to service began early in her career with AmeriCorps in Oregon and as a rural Peace Corps Agriculture Extensionist in Paraguay. This thread continues through her work with cooperatives, nonprofit, and philanthropic organizations where she focused on uplifting existing knowledge and building capacity. She brings to the board expertise in cross-sector collaboration, sustainable rural development, and a joy in identifying areas of overlap that multiply impact. She serves on the board of the Northwest Association of Community Development Managers and the Sustainable Living Center.  Lydia loves dancing with her son, the painfully slow process of making her yard drought-tolerant through experimentation, and adventuring with her family into the wilds of cell service-free outdoors.