María Isa Pérez-Hedges

María Isa is a lifelong Minnesotan, raised on the West Side of Saint Paul. She is a cultural community organizer, international recording artist, and youth worker running for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 65B. She currently directs the mentorship program for the Twin Cities Mobile Jazz Project which empowers young people through music and a cultural curriculum. She also serves on the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board Public Engagement Advisory Task Force, working to ensure the Minnesota Capitol is a welcoming space for community.

A Type 1 diabetic and insulin organizer, María Isa has been a prominent leader in the fight for affordable health care in Minnesota. In April 2020, she played an integral role in advocating for the passage of the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, and she continues her leadership within the Minnesota #Insulin4all Chapter. For her outstanding work with Youthrive Live!, educating incarcerated youth throughout the state of Minnesota, She received the National Hispana Leadership Institute’s “Rising Latina Star" award.