A passionate servant leader who understands the power of the people, The Honorable Veronica Sims has dedicated her career to the transformative power of empowering others with the tools needed to effect the changes that they desire to see in the communities in which they live, work, play, and educate.

Representative Veronica Sims understands food as more than sustenance—it’s culture, connection, and catalyst for change. Her advocacy is rooted in the belief that everyone, especially those in historically marginalized communities, deserves access to nourishing, healthful food. In neighborhoods too often labeled as food deserts, she sees not scarcity, but the opportunity to cultivate abundance—of health, dignity, and community. Inspired by the transformational power of a single act—of planting a seed, sharing a meal, or believing in something better—Representative Sims has sown programs that celebrate food as a vehicle for justice and joy. Through her work at Community Action, she planted the seeds of “Talks in the Garden,” employment and soft skills training, voter education efforts, Dialogues on Poverty, the Growing Hope Food Summits, and the “Yes We Can” canning initiative—each one a testament to her belief that food can be a tool for empowerment, resilience, and belonging.

Representative Veronica Sims sees food, like the arts, as essential nourishment—deeply tied to culture, identity, and justice. She believes that creativity, like fresh food, should never be limited by one’s zip code. Art should live on every block, in every school, and in every season of life—from the boundless imagination of our youth to the lived wisdom of our elders. Her advocacy is rooted in the conviction that arts and culture must be accessible, relevant, and celebrated across the lifespan.

She has long championed policies and programs that ensure the arts are not a luxury for the few but a shared table where all are welcome. Whether it’s through storytelling, sculpture, or song, she believes the arts hold power to heal, inspire, and unite.

That same passion drove her work on the Sojourner Truth Monument Project, where she served with heart and purpose to help establish a public space that honors one of history’s fiercest advocates for justice. This monument is more than stone—it is a gathering space, an act of remembrance, and a permanent call to action. Veronica understood that public art can be a beacon: a place where young girls can see strength reflected back at them and communities can come together in a shared story.

For Representative Sims, advocacy is action. Whether it’s planting seeds in a garden, preserving ancestral knowledge through canning, or elevating voices through public art—she is always working to build a more just, vibrant, and creatively nourished Summit County. Representative Sims and her husband, Quintin, are the proud parents of Qyra. They will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary and become first-time grandparents this summer.