In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, lori latham, MA, reflects on what it means to keep showing up—even when the outcome isn't certain.

From running for leadership knowing she would likely lose, to speaking more directly after years of softening her voice, to raising children she cannot protect from every challenge, lori shares what it looks like to act from your values even when you understand what it might cost.

This conversation explores courage, authenticity, political leadership, parenting, and what becomes possible when we stop letting anticipated outcomes determine whether we act.

Meet lori latham, MA✨

lori has served on the Gary Common Council since January of 2023 and served as the body's President in 2025. She represents Gary's 1st District while working full-time as a business development representative with Wessler Engineering, a water resource engineering firm specializing in drinking water, wastewater, and Stormwater planning and design. A long-time community organizer, lori has built a career on prioritizing community needs and improving policies and practices within government and not-for-profit organizations.

A longtime public health, environmental, and social justice activist, lori previously served as a member of the Live Lake County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, the former chair of the Secondhand Smoke Committee and the Environmental and Climate Justice Committee of the NAACP Gary Branch, and as a Board Member of the Project Rebuild Foundation.

After graduating from Tennessee State University with a BA in Political Science and Loyola University Chicago with an MA in Social Justice, she went on to serve as the Founder and Director of the Central District Organizing Project (CDOP), a grassroots, not-for-profit organization in the Midtown neighborhood of Gary, IN. She also served as Superintendent of the City of Gary's Park Department and directed the Gary Youth Service Bureau.

She is the founder of the Black Water Professionals Alliance and the 1972 Group, a political consulting agency that builds community and supports Black elected officials.

lori loves God, Gary, IN, her husband, Darian, and their 3 children (Daylen, Lauren, and Lennon). She lives with them and her dad, Clarence Peterson. She spells her name in all lowercase to honor the womanist writer bell hooks.

Conversation Highlights 🎙️

• Standing Anyway — lori latham reflects on what it means to run for leadership knowing she would likely lose—and why acting from your values matters more than knowing the outcome.
• The Foot Soldiers of Fear — She shares how fear often disguises itself as overthinking, distraction, insecurity, and other ways fear quietly keeps us from taking courageous action.
• Authenticity Has Consequences — lori discusses setting boundaries, speaking more directly, and discovering that living more authentically sometimes comes with real personal and professional costs.
• Raising Children with Courage — As a mother, lori reflects on the challenge of letting her children become who they are while learning to trust what she cannot control.
• Building a More Equitable Future — From the legacy of the 1972 National Black Political Convention to her vision for health equity and political empowerment, lori shares why changing systems begins with people willing to stand up for what they believe.

"Fear has a whole lot of little foot soldiers." — lori latham, MA

Stay in Touch 🔗

With lori latham, MA

LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriblatham/

Facebook ↗: https://www.facebook.com/lori.peterson.984

Email ↗: [email protected]

With Dr. Kristi McClamroch

LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch

Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6

Speaking & Leadership Development 🤝

Dr. Kristi McClamroch partners with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and higher education organizations through keynote presentations, facilitated conversations, workshops, and leadership development experiences.

Her work explores courage, leadership, systems change, the conditions that shape decision-making, voice, well-being, and values-aligned action.

Whether you're planning a conference, retreat, leadership program, or organizational event, Courageous Public Health can help create meaningful conversations that inspire reflection, connection, and action.

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