Town Councilwoman Mia Ackerman at work supporting policies around health and safety

"Being involved with physical fitness is one of the many things that empowered me and prepared me to be a leader in my community." - Mia Ackerman

Photo courtesy of Ackerman.

by Meghan Grady

Over breakfast at a local establishment, Mia A. Ackerman is greeted by the patrons and staff of the restaurant. "I'm not having my regular today," she tells the waitress as she enjoys a cup of coffee. She begins to talk about her experience to date as a community leader and member of the town council. "I worked on a lot of campaigns and participated in grassroots organizing, then I decided it was my time to run for office," she says.

First elected in 2006, Ackerman is finishing her third term on the Cumberland Town Council and is one of the few female council members in northern Rhode Island. Her days are jam packed from running a small business, raising two teenage children, and serving the needs of the town of Cumberland. "Even with my busy schedule, I still make a conscience effort to explore health options," she explains.

"I make home cooked meals every night and work out at a local gym," she says. Ackerman has been embracing an active lifestyle her entire life. In high school, Ackerman started to explore fitness options outside typical gender boundaries. "During gym class, the women were assigned to aerobics and the men were assigned to weight lifting," she says. "I wanted to try weight training so I lobbied for young women to be able to join the men's class. That was my first experience breaking down gender barriers." Ackerman went on to teach weight lifting to young women during college and participated in power weight lifting competitions. "Being involved with physical fitness is one of the many things that empowered me and prepared me to be a leader in my community," she says.

As a member of the town council, Ackerman supports local policies that will improve the health and safety of the community. "I love putting my time and energy behind an issue that will enhance the livability of our community," she says.

Ackerman encourages physical activity locally by sponsoring a girl's soccer team in Cumberland – Ackerman Title Services. "It is great to see youth participating in organized sports having fun, learning about teamwork, and gaining new experiences," she says.