Build Capacity

As the Government and Community Relations Director, Beverly develops and implements OFS’s policy platform aimed at addressing long-term solutions to the problem of hunger. She oversees government and community relations, grassroots advocacy, policy research, and other relevant research studies designed to decrease child hunger and family food insecurity in Missouri. She and her team utilize evidence-based best practices in accordance with Independent Review Board protocols to ensure the Policy and Advocacy department delivers on its goals.

Iva Eggert-Shepherd was born and raised in a very rural area in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Iva was raised by a family of helpers who passed down their morals and values to Iva. Iva was determined to break the poverty cycle and prove to those that said, “you won’t succeed” wrong. Iva applied her Bachelor of Social Work and Criminal Justice to her role at the Family Support Division for seventeen years before moving on to the Health Care Collaborative and ultimately the Missouri Primary Care Association (MPCA). Iva currently serves as the Outreach Program Manager at MPCA where her primary role includes working one-on-one with frontline staff in their healthcare clinics to better understand Medicaid and Medicare. Beyond her work, Iva loves to quilt, sing at her church, and is a proficient bowler racking up a 298 as her highest score. Iva believes that “every person has the right to have the best quality and most affordable healthcare available.”

Christine was born and raised in Florissant, MO. She has always lived in the St. Louis area and was the fifth generation to get married at her family’s church. She went to Saint Louis University for her undergraduate degree and after graduation she became a full-time volunteer with the Vincentians, a catholic order of priests. During that year, she worked at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Soulard and it was there that she was first exposed to policy work and social work. After that year, Christine went back to Saint Louis University to get her Master of Social Work degree and did a summer internship at MASW, now Empower Missouri. After obtaining her MSW, Christine worked at the Guardian Angel Settlement Association in South St. Louis City as a case manager. Since 2006, Christine has worked at Empower Missouri on hunger and criminal justice issues. Working at Empower Missouri allows Christine to pursue her passion for social justice work as well as maintaining good work life balance to be able to spend quality time with her husband Paul and their two sons, Brendan and Alexander.

Jessica Seitz is a self-described political junkie since birth. Her lifelong passion for politics led her from her hometown of Oklahoma City to Waltham, MA to study political science at Brandeis University. Jessica started her career in state-level advocacy on the East Coast before realizing her dream of working in Washington, D.C. as a federal lobbyist for children’s issues. In her time there she served on the government relations teams of the National PTA and YMCA of the USA. In 2017, Jessica and her husband made the move to Missouri, bringing them closer to family and Jessica back to state-level advocacy work. Jessica now serves as the Executive Director for Missouri KidsFirst, the state’s leading voice on issues of child abuse and neglect. What really drives Jessica is being an effective advocate for children, the Child Advocacy Center members she represents, and the incredible work they do every day on the front lines to help children. When not testifying at a hearing or monitoring legislation, she has a love of baseball and museums, and, now residing in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband Ryan, she enjoys Cardinal baseball (and still rooting for her favorite Washington Nationals).

Rhonda Perry is a 5th generation Missouri farmer originally from Chillicothe, MO who has called Howard County home for 29 years. Watching her family and other local farmers stand up for their livelihood during the farm foreclosure crisis in the 80’s inspired her to dedicate her career to amplifying the voices of rural farmers and communities. After receiving her degree in Psychology, she joined Missouri Rural Crisis Center, where she serves as the Executive Director. In her role, she manages staff, directs on the ground programs and initiatives, and drives their state policy advocacy. Rhonda is especially passionate about the organization’s environmental justice work, sustainable farming and food programs, and emerging projects that are bringing rural and urban youth together around agriculture and healthy food. As a cattle farmer herself, she loves to ensure that the statewide advocacy of MRCC is grounded in the everyday experiences and voices of rural families. Rhonda believes that rural Missourians must be a big part of the solution to make our state even better, stronger, and healthier.