House District 62
Waterloo
Address:
208 Greenbrier Rd
Waterloo, IA 50703
Phone: 319-233-9934
http://www.repdeborahberry.com
Email: deborah.berry@legis.state.ia.us
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Biography
Representative Deborah Berry is serving her 5th term in the Iowa House. She is a Ranking Member of the International Relations committee. She also serves on the Local Government, Public Safety, Government Oversight and Veterans Affairs committees.
Representative Berry is a resident of Waterloo, IA. She has one son, Roshawn, his wife Carrie, and granddaughter, Nia Rose.
Representative Berry earned a Bachelors of Arts degree from Upper Iowa University and is pursuing a Master’s degree in the Mass Communication at the University of Iowa.
Representative Berry is a Corporate Fundraising Director at KBBG-FM Public Radio in Waterloo and formerly employed as adjunct instructor at Hawkeye Community College and with the Waterloo Community Schools as Education Site Coordinator. Her governmental experience began in Administration with Black Hawk County. She later ran for public office and was elected to the Waterloo City Council in 2000, where she demonstrated an independent thinker who voted her conscience.
As a champion of youth issues, priority for Representative Berry is protecting children against abuse and neglect. She is especially concerned with increasing the proficiency levels of disadvantaged students, and advocates for funding afterschool programs for all youth. She encourages schools to become community education learning centers, where after-school academic and enrichment programs will assist at-risk students to increase their academic achievement levels.
Representative Berry has always demonstrated commitment to her community. She serves as board member to several community organizations and is the first African American woman to have membership of the Waterloo Elks Lodge. Other associations include the Iowa Community Education Association and the NAACP.
In recognition of her timeless efforts, Representative Berry has been given several community recognitions. In 2006, she was awarded the Wheaton Franciscan Speaking of Woman’s Health “Friend for Life” award; 2004 KBBG-FM “Citizen of the Year,” 2003 “National Trio Achievers” award, 2001 NAACP “President’s Award”; 2009 Iowa Nurses Association “Friend of Nursing” award; 2009 Iowa Health Care Association award recipient.
