Shayla Simpson grew up in the community of Waterloo, IA and her family owned a farm in
Dunkerton, IA where neighborhood kids would gather around the table for mealtime at
her grandparent’s home.
Her grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles would frequently pull over on the side of
the road to help people, even as a young child she would overhear her grandmother say
she was going to give food, household supplies, and offer work to someone down the
street who did not have food.
Simpson’s family taught her how to give. As the first African American farm owners, with
family land dating back to the 1800s, Simpson said they took it upon themselves to help
others. It is a lesson that lives on in her today – she often carries provisions in her car
including, this season, umbrellas, ponchos, rain covers, gloves, blankets, hats and
mittens to help protect people in need from the Minnesota snow.
Now, Simpson hopes to make her own impact in hunger relief as she joins the FFEN
board of directors.
She brings with her the words of her father, who died a few years ago, but who could
often be found making big pots of chili to go out and feed people on cold weekends.
“Just because you’re stable or comfortable financially doesn’t mean you can’t lose
everything,” she said. “Life can change in an instant—unexpected events, emergencies,
or shifts in circumstances can upend even the most secure situations.”
Simpson said hunger relief is important to her not only because of her upbringing, but
because hunger impacts stability. If people do not have access to healthy food, she
said, it can impact their overall health and spiral into a larger cycle of need.
“I lead with compassion and empathy, always striving to approach situations with heart
and thoughtfulness,” she said. “I make an effort to carefully think things through.”
Simpson is completing her double bachelor’s degree in legal studies and philosophy
from Hamline University while completing her 3+3 program for law. She is also the founder of Renny ALS, an organization focused on supporting families through life’s transitions with services that include notary and family mediation.
In her role as a human resource business partner at Search Institute, Simpson is focused on strategic thinking and effective leadership in a demanding environment. She said she looks forward to bringing those same skills to her board work as she learns more about how she can be most impactful with FFEN.
