At its April 13 annual meeting at Summit Brewing Company, the West 7th/Fort Road Federation elected a mix of new and returning board members, adding fresh voices while maintaining continuity in key leadership roles.

Newly elected to the board are Nathan Zacharias as second vice president, Suzi Wint as an Area 1 coordinator, Alicia Larson representing Area 3 and Matt Saumweber as an at-large coordinator. Each will serve alongside existing members in guiding the district council’s work on neighborhood priorities.

Voters also returned several incumbents to their roles. Meg Duhr was re-elected as president, continuing her leadership of the organization, while Sara Fleetham will remain secretary. In the geographic coordinator roles, Korinne Dennis was re-elected in Area 1 and Kelsey Peterson will continue representing Area 2.

The Federation’s board is composed of volunteers who represent residents either by geographic area or in at-large positions. Area coordinators serve as a key link between neighbors and the board, bringing forward concerns related to zoning, development, safety and other quality-of-life issues across the West 7th district.

The annual election reflects the Federation’s ongoing effort to balance institutional knowledge with new perspectives. In recent years, the board has remained focused on strengthening community engagement, navigating development pressures and supporting neighborhood-led initiatives.

In addition to board elections, the Federation announced a new staff hire aimed at expanding that outreach work. Jenna Bowman will join the organization this summer as a part-time Community Engagement Coordinator. In the role, she will support neighborhood outreach, assist with community garden efforts and help organize events such as the West End Garage Sale and Garden Tour.

Federation leaders said the added staff capacity will help deepen connections across the neighborhood, particularly during the busy summer months when community events are in full swing.

With its updated board and new staff support, the Federation is preparing for another active year of organizing and advocacy. Board meetings remain open to the public, and residents are encouraged to connect with their area coordinators to share concerns and stay involved in shaping the future of West 7th.

Learn more at fortroadfed.org.