Tenacity, Healing, and Hope on the Ballot
In a city defined by grit and grounded in community, District 1 candidate Jolie Lippitt is running a campaign powered not by privilege or pedigree—but by presence, persistence, and purpose.
Since arriving in Topeka in 2018, Lippitt has built a life rooted in recovery, resilience, and relentless service. Her journey—from surviving the justice system to becoming a neighborhood caseworker and now a City Council candidate—offers voters more than a political platform. It offers a lived promise: that healing is possible, systems can change, and leadership can come from love.
We sat down with Jolie for a wide-ranging conversation about trauma, motherhood, affordable housing, and her dream dinner guests. Her answers are unfiltered, deeply personal, and full of heart.
Your Journey
You’ve been open about surviving trauma, poverty, and the justice system. What’s something people misunderstand about that experience?
“It isn’t something to be ashamed of—it’s something to be proud of,” Lippitt says. “The truth is, most people wouldn’t survive it. It would chew them up and probably kill them. But for those of us who’ve lived through it and come out stronger, we are skilled, strong, majestic, capable warriors.”
When you moved to Topeka, did you imagine running for office?
“Absolutely not,” she laughs. “But Topeka nursed me to thrive. Working as a caseworker, I saw so many barriers that were actually city-level problems. That shifted something in me. I locked in, set the goal, and started preparing.”
What part of District 1 feels most like home?
“Ward-Meade Park and Willow Park. They’re my favorite spots.”
Your Vision for Topeka
Describe your campaign in one word.
“Tenacious. It means determined, persistent—resilient. I don’t have the access or resources my opponents do, but I’ve been preparing for this for five years. There’s no secret weapon. Just discipline, grit, and a dog-with-a-bone mentality.”
You’ve called crime and violence public health issues. What would it look like to treat people, not just problems?
“It looks like what other cities have already done—investing in the health and wellbeing of their most vulnerable residents. It’s been proven to work.”
What does ‘affordable housing’ actually mean to families in District 1?
“It means safe, stable places to live. One thing the city could do right now is stop sitting on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF) and actually allocate those dollars. It’s time to get it out of limbo.”
What do you hope voters see when they see your name on the ballot?
“I hope they see themselves—or someone they love. I’m not a lawyer or executive. I’m a mom and a community servant who saw a wound and chose to fight for healing. I hope to inspire others to get involved, to stop waiting for someone else to fix things.”
On Leadership & Legacy
How do you lead—by power or presence?
“I lead by listening. I genuinely care. That’s what makes me who I am. To lead well, you have to know your people—what they need, what they dream of. Once you know that, leadership becomes natural.”
Fast forward to the end of your first term. What’s the headline you’d love to read?
“That we made progress in all the areas I’m fighting for—and that it wasn’t about me, but about the community coming together to do something real.”
What’s something you’ve done that didn’t make the news—but meant the world to someone?
“I once gave Narcan to a neighbor engaged in active addiction. Within months, people knew to go to that house if there was an overdose. Multiple lives were saved because of it. That’s the kind of impact I’m proud of.”
Just for Fun
How do you decompress after a hard day?
“I cry, do face masks, make wild art, and spend time in my ‘meditation room’—which is just a big closet I repurposed. I’ve got a deep toolkit of coping techniques, and I believe in self-care for everyone. Even the pets.”
What has motherhood taught you about politics?
“My child has made me a better, kinder, more patient person. It’s impossible to sum it all up in one lesson, but if I had to—it’s that love makes you strong.”
If you could host a dinner with three Topekans, who would you invite?
“Oliver Brown, for his courage and legacy. Charles Curtis, as a Native woman I draw strength from his example. And John Brown—technically not from Topeka, but a Kansan all the same. His fierce commitment to justice makes him the definition of an ally.”
Final Word
In a race often dominated by headlines and handshakes, Jolie Lippitt brings something different to District 1: honesty, humility, and hard-earned hope. Her campaign isn’t about climbing a ladder. It’s about building a bridge—from struggle to service, from surviving to thriving.
And that just might be what Topeka needs right now.
