Kerri Thoreson, Coeur d'Alene Press columnist, serves on the Post Falls City Council and has been involved with KACF for several years. She curator of the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza. She has served on the boards of United Way, the Post Falls Food Bank, Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council, Post Falls Senior Center and the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce. Kerri has been recognized as Post Falls Citizen of the Year. She emcees and has been the keynote speaker for a number of local charitable fundraisers.

kerrit@postfallsidaho.org

Mike Wood.  I am the education specialist with Community Action Partnership providing financial resource development and education.  I work to provide financial education and assistance in the five North Idaho Counties and help coordinate financial education services including a vast network of volunteer income tax preparers.  I’m also developing banking opportunities for all North Idaho families.  In addition to these financial services I help families reduce their energy costs by teaching workshops on energy efficiency and attending community events and schools with my energy gear and legendary “light box”.

When I’m not helping families at work I have fun with my own family.  I have a wonderful wife of 15 years and we have two children that are a blessing.  We like to play the wii, jump on the trampoline, ride bikes, go to the park, and do all kinds of other fun stuff.  My son is a bear scout and I’m honored to be the den leader.  My daughter is a daisy scout and keeps me busy playing house.  We are a part of the Dalton Gardens Church of Christ and the Kootenai County Circles Initiative.

Lori Hess. I am co founder of Freedom House Women’s Recovery Home and have been serving as the program director for 2 ½ years. We have served women between the ages of 18-68 who are serious about living live free of addictions. I oversee 30+ volunteers from around the community that help us meet our goal of changing lives at Freedom House.

I started helping women in recovery while serving on a jail ministry team for 2 years. I found that most of these women struggled with addictions and I wanted to do more for them. I am now a Drug and Alcohol Relapse Prevention Specialist and an MRT Facilitator for women who struggle with addiction and criminal thinking.

I am a mother of three wonderful boys and wife to Charlie of 11 years. We call Prairie Avenue Christian Center our church home and our heart as a family is to serve people who are hurting.  Our middle son was born with a life threatening illness and still has continual health issues. Our heart is to help other parents and siblings who are going through similar crisis find hope where there doesn’t seem to be any.

Cindy Wood. I am an Idahoan by birth and have fallen in love with the community here in Kootenai County.  While at the University of Idaho getting my Classical Studies Degree, I was introduced to beautiful North Idaho.  I have worked in Portland OR, St. Louis MO, Blacksburg VA, and Bozeman MT.  There is still no place I would rather be because people in this community care about each other, about each other’s families.  My background includes 14 years in campus ministry, as well as 4 years of directing children’s programs and working with special needs teens and young adults.  For the past 2 years I have been the Executive Director of Family Promise of North Idaho, a homeless shelter for families.  I see the unique set of needs each family brings to the table, whether low to middle income and the importance of community involvement to meet those needs.  The roll the Alliance plays in educating youth and adults on healthy decision making and boundaries as well as warning signs for a myriad of issues is unparalleled.  I am honored to be on this steering committee.