Kathy Hartley

Why have you chosen to be on the board?

I believe the Mission, Values & Guiding Principals are excellent and I fully support them especially the statement that “we have a moral responsibility to future generations to be good stewards of the ecosystems on which they will depend.” One of the other statements that speaks to me is that “environmental and social justice must be pursued hand in hand.” I believe that the moral responsibility we are given contains a spiritual dimension to take care of and steward this beautiful, amazing, and fragile natural environment.  I think CURE is an effective organization taking an intelligent, organized, and systematic approach in bringing about change.

Tell us about your vocation/profession.

For the first half of my career life I worked in Education in the Twin Cities; for the second half as an ELCA pastor in the New London/Spicer/Willmar area. I grew up on a farm in the Raymond area and learned from my father the importance of taking care of the land and the water. He used conservation-friendly methods in tilling and planting when those were new concepts.

I am involved in several Social Justice organizations including Isaiah, Indivisible, and Protect Minnesota. I have a B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota, and a Master Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary.

Fun Facts(s):

My husband John and I like to camp and also travel the cushy way—staying in hotels or AirBnB’s. We have three adult children—two live in the Twin Cities and one in Seattle. Bicycle riding is my passion and I have been fortunate to ride in several countries in Europe and in Australia, Iceland, and Norway. It’s a good way to travel slow and connect with the local people and environment.