Vera Baboun is the oldest sister to three brothers, a widow, and a mother of five. She found herself leading a life journey that had never been taken.  The challenges of that life journey empowered her voice and her decisions. Her husband was detained for three years. Vera started lecturing English Literature at Bethlehem University. In 2013 she ran for mayor of the city of Bethlehem, Israel (Palestine Side) and was elected as the first woman to hold this position since its inception in 1872. Being a woman, in an Arabic country, with many religious factions and sects, women have never held this high position prior to this. Vera can be reached on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.