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I have been part of the FSSF organization since 2018. As a lifelong Madisonian, I have spent most of my life in and around the Isthmus area, attending UW Madison, running a business on State Street and being part of a variety of arts organizations. I viewed our homeless friends as a nuisance, and had very little compassion for their struggle. My conversion came when I was performing with a classical music group and a homeless woman stopped and listened. She began to cry and when we finished thanked me profusely, explaining it was a piece of music her and her mother used to listen to. And at that moment, I saw the humanity I chose to ignore for many years. And it was due to that connection that I committed to being a better person and doing the right thing.

My non-profit and board experience led me to a communications role in FSSF, which eventually led to my current position of board President. And I am extremely fortunate to be part of this group of compassionate, dedicated and tenacious individuals who want to make life a little better for those less fortunate than us. And I have made a lot of new friends over the past few years, which has enriched my life in ways it wouldn’t have been had I never turned the corner. I continue to be active in the Madison arts scene and enjoy everything our community has to offer, year round.

I first learned about the work of Friends of the State Street Family when our founder, Tami Fleming, visited my classroom as a guest speaker in 2016. Intrigued, I planned to volunteer just a few times over the summer—but nine years later, outreach with Friends has become one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. This work gives me a deep sense of purpose and continually reminds me of the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

I currently serve as Vice President while maintaining a strong, hands-on connection to outreach. The values of Friends—building community, strengthening relationships, and, most importantly, treating people with dignity—have shaped my empathy and inspired me to continue advocating for the people we serve. In recognition of this commitment, I was honored to receive the 2022 United Way of Dane County Distinguished Service Award.

Inspired by my daughter who is involved in all aspects of Friends of the State Street Family, I wanted to find a way to support this group of very dedicated individuals who “walked the talk” of their mission. Being retired and only in Wisconsin six months a year, I wondered if there was a role for me. When in town, I joined the Wednesday morning Breakfast Club where friends could come to the FSSF table for emergency supplies, toiletries, clothing, and a listening ear. I was hooked! I decided I wanted to share the skills I acquired as a faculty member in Business Administration and Director of a non-profit state-wide agency. I joined the Board of Directors in the role of Secretary, moved to the At-Large position working on grant writing and software implementation, and now will move to the position of Treasurer. My love of technology has allowed me to stay involved even though I divide my time between Wisconsin and Florida. 

Having been involved with Friends of State Street Family for many years as a volunteer, I am honored to deepen my commitment by serving as Board Secretary. My professional background is rooted in forming community, ranging from managing large-scale downtown Madison apartments and in prior roles managing retirement communities. Across my life, I prioritize a “people first” philosophy, using empathy as my guide to make the personal connections that matter most. I am excited to help this amazing team continue to improve how we support our Friends on State Street.

When I am not working or volunteering, I love spending time with my family, friends and my sweetest good-boy Great Dane, Buster. I also enjoy bike riding, comedy shows, concerts, snorkeling and I am always searching for the bluest water and whitest sandy beaches under the sun!

I started volunteering with Friends in 2018. I enjoyed going up and down State Street distributing the basics for survival to those struggling and being able to hear their stories and get the chance to connect them with the resources to get through the day and eventually off the street. When Covid hit we had to alter how we found and connected with our Friends and I was excited to figure out new and creative ways to get them resources and supplies while eliminating waste and single use plastics through our “Friends Stations” and other projects. Truly getting to meet people where they are is a rate gift and an incredible way to understand life beyond societal “norms” and find your humanity.

Ashley serves on the Friends of the State Street Family Board as Community Liaison. She is actively involved in weekly street outreach and works closely with unsheltered individuals downtown, building trust through consistency and presence. In her role, Ashley brings real time street level insight to the Board, helping ground decisions in what people are actually experiencing day to day. When she is not doing outreach, she is a devoted cat mom, a role she takes just as seriously.

I’m not religious, but one teaching has always stayed with me: “Do not stand idly by.” The opposite of love isn’t hate—it’s indifference—and that belief has shaped my commitment to serving others.
My volunteer work began in 2014 with Meals on Wheels and deepened through service at the Beacon homeless day shelter, where the scale of suffering in our community became impossible to ignore. After two years in various roles at the Beacon, it was clear this work would be a long-term commitment.
I later volunteered with Second Harvest Food Pantry and, in 2018, founded One Love One Lunch to cook and serve meals for Madison’s homeless community. That effort now continues alongside the Friends of the State Street Family outreach team.
As a volunteer with FSSF since 2018—and now a board member—I respond to calls for assistance, connect individuals with resources and referrals, and lead a weekly outreach team providing meals and survival gear to individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout the Madison area. Service has become a core part of who I am, grounded in the belief that when we have the ability to help, we must turn that ability into action.