Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina McDonough Hunt.
Hi Christina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always had a genuine fire to help others and be a voice for those who need someone to speak up for them. I am the oldest of three daughters and quickly took on leadership roles. My desire to protect and stand up for others is innate. These God-given gifts have led me through life in many different roles, from fast food to corporate, business owner, parenting, and the non-profit world to politics.
I work for Special Olympics Missouri as the Development Manager, and I recently ran for Jackson County Legislator District One. I stumbled into politics because our nation is divided, and I believe we need leaders that can unite us and genuinely want good for all of us versus being invested in only themselves. I decided to run for political office because I can’t complain about how things are if I’m not willing to do something about it. So here I am today. I was not elected to the Jackson County Legislator position; however, I know that I don’t need a “title” to make a difference or to have a voice.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Seriously, nothing in life is smooth. Failure comes in many forms. It can be scary, but what’s most valuable is how you recover from the failure. I am where I am today because despite all of my scrapes and bruises (there are so many!), I always get back up, clean the wounds, learn from my mistakes, pivot and continue down the road. I have spent decades working on getting out of my way. Learning to cope with pride and embarrassment, becoming courageous, and discovering and accepting God’s path for my life has been a long journey but so worth it! Balancing my life is my biggest challenge. It’s a challenging path when you wear so many hats. I’m a wife and a mother; I’m a co-worker. And now I’m a politician. How do you ensure you are not taking from another when you are giving to one? It’s so tough! But I’ve learned that in many cases, I can combine these hats into one, which is helpful. The other thing I’ve learned is to carve out time for God, my family, and myself. It’s so important! When your priorities are in the right order, you can accomplish more, and the struggles don’t feel so heavy.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As the Development Manager for Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO), I raise funds for the KC Metro area programs and athletes. Fundraising is my specialty! It was about 8 years ago when I discovered my gifts of managing and executing events to raise money, and I’ve learned so much since then. It’s such a rewarding career to know that you are directly impacting your community and individuals in the community. What I love most about SOMO is our athletes, our coaches, and our families! I enjoy working with our volunteers, who are so valuable, and our community partners. I genuinely enjoy meeting new people and making connections for our SOMO community. Recently, I had an idea of doing an art crawl that featured only artwork persons with developmental differences created. This idea turned into a reality, and within about 4 months, we partnered with Southeast Enterprises and hosted our first Picture Me Perfect Art Crawl in Brookside! The event was a giant success, and we’re looking forward to next year’s event. I’m so proud that the KC community was able to meet our artists and appreciate their gifts.
As a candidate for Jackson County Legislator, I knocked on doors and met thousands of Jackson County residents who want a safe and prosperous community. Through many conversations, I discovered that people are screaming for someone to represent their voice, and it’s been an honor to be that voice for them. The election is over, and my focus has turned to help other strong women get elected. Women are the backbone of our society. We are the glue that holds our families and our communities together. As we unite and grow stronger, we’ll collectively make our community stronger and more whole. I’m very excited to be a part of this movement to make Kansas City and Jackson County a safer or more prosperous place to live and raise our families.
I am most proud of my ability to pivot after a loss or failure. It’s so easy to give up and walk away, but that is admitting defeat. God opens a window when he closes a door, and I’ve always believed that. What sets me apart from others is my continuous positive perspective and my ability to envision how things can become while mapping out a plan to make it happen. I’m very patient and believe that timing is everything, which tends to work in my favor for getting things accomplished. I’ve been told my skill set is unique, but truthfully, it’s all I know, so I’ll have to take other people’s word on that.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Through the efforts of Special Olympics Missouri, we will see an increase in awareness and acceptance of people in our community with intellectual or developmental differences. And in the political world, as our voices get stronger, we will create a stronger and more unified community, state, and nation. Ultimately, we are all Americans, and at the core of it all, we want the same things; safe communities, hope, freedom, and prosperity. Once we understand that united, we stand strong, and divided, we fall, we’ll see that we have more in common than we realize.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.christinamcdonoughhunt.com
