By Audrey Keith
As a young native Iowan, it is exciting to see a young person such as Ryan Hall, a non-traditional University of Iowa student, running for our city council. So often, people our age choose to move to more exciting and diverse places than Iowa, so it is heartening to see someone young commit to our community, improving it and making it a welcoming place for all people.
Ryan Hall has served three years in the AmeriCorps program in three different states. He served as a tutor and mentor in an inner-city school in Columbus, Ohio, was a woodland firefighter in the national forests of Colorado and while based in Decorah he improved the energy efficiency of low-income homes throughout northeast Iowa. These various experiences lend to Ryan’s ability to create innovative solutions to our local issues. Ryan has sought out the issues that are important to all Iowa City residents and has already put in the work to start change at the local level. During his time here, he has become involved in student and community organizations such as Student Advocates for Planned Parenthood, the Men’s Anti-Violence Council and the Center for Worker Justice.
As a city council member, Ryan Hall will continue to fight for higher wages, more affordable housing, better accessibility and public transportation, sustainable practices and economic and racial justice. I trust Ryan Hall to listen to community voices, including students, immigrants and long-term residents!
