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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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2010-04-10 |
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| Name | Jim Meffert |
| Address |
Edina, Minnesota , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | [Link] |
| Born |
May 20, 1967
(56 years)
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| Contributor | Jason |
| Last Modifed | Juan Croniqueur
Feb 14, 2024 01:43am |
| Tags |
Caucasian - Married - Lutheran - Straight -
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| Info | Jim grew up in Marshall, Minnesota. His father was a teacher and his mother worked at an accounting firm, and both were actively involved in the community. Through volunteering and helping their neighbors, they shaped Jim’s views of responsibility towards others.
After graduating from Marshall Senior High School in 1985, Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Though he majored in political science, he spent much of his time in the music department playing percussion in the St. Olaf Band and Jazz Band. That is where he met his future wife, Karrin, who played clarinet. Karrin and Jim married in 1991. In 1992, they moved to Chicago so Karrin could attend graduate school at Northwestern.
In Chicago, Jim worked for the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons on such issues as coverage for reconstruction after mastectomy and cleft lip and palate repair. He also worked to ensure that access to burn care and reconstructive surgery was included in the Clinton Health Plan proposals. He went on to work at the American Medical Association where his job depended on Jim’s skills as a consensus builder, and he was successful in finding agreement among groups and policymakers who did not often agree.
Jim and Karrin returned to Edina, Minnesota to raise their three children in a state with a strong cultural commitment to public education. Alex (12), Noah (8), and Katy (6) all attend Edina public schools. The boys play baseball, Katy plays soccer, and all three play basketball. The kids are all learning to play the violin, sing in the church choirs and they love to travel. They are excited to join Team Meffert in parades across the district this summer. Together Jim and Karrin served as Co-Presidents of the Parent Teacher Association at their children’s elementary school. Jim then served on the Minnesota State PTA board, where he served as president. Jim has also chaired the Minnesota Children’s Platform Coalition, a statewide network of child advocacy and related organizations. He is currently serving on the P-20 Partnership for Education and the Steering Committee for the “Rethinking Public Education” project by the Growth & Justice Foundation.
Since 1998, Jim has worked full time as the executive director of the Minnesota Optometric Association, where he works to ensure that people of all ages and income levels have access to eye care. Through his efforts, the MOA has partnered with teachers, parents and school nurses to identify and provide care for children who have difficulty reading the blackboard. He has also worked with legislators to make sure underserved populations have access to necessary eye care services. Jim has been credited with restoring the MOA’s financial health, nurturing strong partnerships and bringing national attention to eye care issues, and he is recognized as a leader in bringing solutions to the healthcare arena both locally and nationally.
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