Moms volunteer Misti Allison lives in East Palestine, Ohio—the small town that captured national attention back in February when a train derailed and released multiple toxic chemicals into the community, including more than 115,000 gallons of carcinogenic vinyl chloride. Eight months later, Misti is determined to ensure that East Palestine residents aren’t forgotten. That’s why she decided to run for mayor of her beloved hometown.
Misti tells The 19th that concern for her children’s health and safety was one of the factors that motivated her: “Mothers will stop at nothing to protect their children. I’m very concerned about our whole community, but especially for the children in town.” That drive to protect her kids and community is what brought Misti to Washington, DC, this March to testify before the Senate, telling leaders something her mother always used to say to her: “Either you find a way, or you find an excuse.”
For Misti, finding a way seems to come naturally. In the aftermath of the chemical disaster, Misti turned her grief and anxiety into action, tirelessly advocating for her community’s needs and pushing for strong protections that would prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening.
Misti lost her bid for mayor yesterday, but if we know Misti, this will only motivate her to find new ways to help her community recover and thrive.
“We are so proud of Misti; from the moment we met her we admired her spunk and fighting spirit,” said Dominique Browning, Director & Co-Founder of Moms Clean Air Force. “While she did not win, she showed she is a natural leader—a shining example of the impact moms can have when they are passionate about issues that affect them, their families, their friends, and their neighbors, and then are empowered to engage in the political activities necessary to bring these issues to the forefront of the voting public. So this is just a beginning, and we look forward to big things to come with her.”