As a senior leader in local government, Sarah has a deep understanding of the complex nature of communities and the role public safety plays in enhancing a community’s well-being. With over a decade of municipal and public safety experience, Sarah has developed deep insight into the complex and interconnected landscape that shapes public safety in a community, leading large scale initiatives that have led to significant reductions in violence in the communities she has served. 

Prior to founding Aligned Community Solutions, Sarah served as the Chief Strategy Officer for the City of Davenport where she was responsible for the implementation and execution of large strategic initiatives of the Mayor and City Council, primarily focused on lowering community violence and enhancing public safety. Working with a broad array of internal and external stakeholders, Sarah developed a holistic framework for reducing violence in Davenport across the entire public safety continuum, leading to significant reductions in community violence including a 54% decrease in shots fired and 27% decrease in non-fatal shooting victims over a five year period.

Sarah has unique insight into the work that it takes to move a strategy from concept to successful implementation. She understands the challenges that can arise when trying to build relationships across a fractured community and how political dynamics can shape the appetite for community solutions to violent crime. Sarah also understands the need for all partners to be in alignment in order to successfully execute the strategy.

Sarah is passionate about partnering with communities to develop strategies that are authentic to their unique strengths, challenges and capacity.