Though we had lived in the same small community for many years the first time my path crossed with Ashley Costa was just after she had won a seat to Lompoc’s City Council.  The Council for many years had been comprised primarily of middle-aged males from our community with the occasional middle-aged female, but never someone in their twenties.  To essentially be a lone representative in both gender and age as well as probably ideals was a challenge I couldn’t fathom anyone desiring but I  admired her for taking on those challenges.  When she did win my first thought was, “Awesome!  You go girl!” but that was followed with thoughts of how much work she had before her.  Little did I know at the time how Ashley thrives on challenge and hard work.

Ashley is a third generation Lompoc native, born and raised in our community with her Portuguese ancestors on her dad’s side immigrating from the Azores.  Her dad and mom met in Hawaii but they returned to Lompoc to raise their family.  Ashley fondly remembers her childhood of growing up in a small town, skateboarding until dark without a care for her safety and enjoying the feel of a close knit community.  While in high school she met Mary Anne Rios, someone she remembers as caring, cool and with an infectious sense of humor.  And it was Mrs. Rios who helped her get into UCLA.  Ashley states, “She didn’t let me sell myself short, she did everything she could to help me get to UCLA.  Even after I came back to town she was always my cheerleader.  She was a phenomenal human.”  While in high school Ashley also had the opportunity to attend California Girl’s State, an experience that solidified her love of government and sociology.  Through high school and then in college she actively took on leadership roles, finding she had a natural aptitude as a leader.  After graduating with honors from UCLA in 2009 with a degree in political science, she happily returned to the small town she grew up in. 

Arriving back in Lompoc she sought out community leaders, some of who were Joyce Howerton, Dulcie Sinn and Alice Milligan, to learn how the community was doing, what the challenges were and if there were any employment opportunities.  It was about this time someone floated the idea of her running for City Council.  Not afraid of a challenge and believing it would be a great experience regardless of the outcome, Ashley ran her campaign and became the youngest person to ever hold a Lompoc City Council seat.  The next fours years she spent learning more about our community, problem solving and building her confidence as a leader.  Despite her love of the role, she chose not to seek an additional term mostly due the to economics of the situation and the balancing of three different jobs, one of which was a position with Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization.  In 2015 she transitioned to the Executive Director position of LVCHO and I have since watched her guide and grow this organization through caring hard work and her love of community into the relevant and impactful one it is today.   

Not surprisingly, winning the city council seat Ashley sites as the most inspirational event in her life.  She says, “I give my mom a lot of credit.  A single mom teaching us to believe we can do anything we want to do.  Winning the seat validated the value of having a young sense of fearlessness needed to achieve great, but scary, things.”  But it is her relationship with her significant other that is most relevant to who she is today. “When you find unconditional love and a partner who balances you out, you find a sense of peace and happiness you didn’t have before.  He has helped me become a better version of myself, not codependent but interdependent.  He showed me that peace and happiness could exist in myself and in a relationship.  He showed me I had value just being me.”

Through all these different experiences there have been other valuable lessons that Ashley has learned and holds dear.  A couple are that “credibility matters” and you don’t have to always have the answers.  Ultimately, however, realizing and understanding that people’s behavior is often more about them than it is about you she shares, “is a way I can approach things with empathy and peace.  You still need to examine what part you played and take any responsibility but now I understand there is no need to defend myself or who I am.” 

And for heroes, she states, “There are a group of women, elite athletes in the CrossFit industry, that I would consider Heroes. Women like Tia Clair Toomey, Annie Thorisdottir, Amanda Barnhart, Lauren Fisher, and so many others. These women are helping to redefine femininity and the limits of human capabilities. They are changing the narrative that women must be thin and weak and proving a woman’s strength is beautiful. They are pioneers and I’m so thankful to have them to look up to as my heroes.”  

When I asked her if you she had anything else to say she declared in true Ashley form 

“It wouldn’t be a story about Ashley without a call to action!”  So here we go.  What Ashley is calling us to do is to have more people in our community taking on leadership roles, providing more of a voice for Lompoc and to advocate for our community.  She is asking us to follow her lead, to step up, be involved and to dream.  To speak about our concerns and solutions.  To be cheerleaders for our community and vocal about the wonderful things we have to offer.  Ultimately, to be fearless and to believe in ourselves.  

I am so thankful to have met Ashley and to have had the opportunity to work with her in the community, to watch and learn from her.  Her fearlessness and willingness to listen with an open heart are inspirational.  Her approach in finding solutions often involves changing the narrative or looking from a different perspective, then seeking answers and not focusing on the problem, which for me has been thought provoking and helpful.   And true to who Ashley is, she asked me to share that she  would like to learn more about you, your concerns or what you are passionate about.  She has an open invitation policy to chat over a cup of coffee or for now over the phone.  So be fearless.  Give her call.  Meet Ashley, one of my heroes and someone who is helping make our community a better place.  ~♥~