"There is nobody more qualified to influence decisions in a community than the people who call it HOME."
Hello!
I'm Treva.
Community Advocate. Speaker. Civic Educator. Lover of Cities, Towns, and Local Government.
Maybe you know me best as #DrMayor
My passion for local government began a decade ago when I joined a grassroots effort to help a local neighborhood preserve their community. I was inspired by my friends' determination to remain in their homes despite immense pressure to sell out and give up in a development scheme gone awry.
For three years while I was pursuing my PhD I also attended every public meeting in my city so I could keep track of what was happening and share with others through a robust social media outreach. Then, in 2019, the same weekend I graduated and celebrated my goal of becoming "Dr. Hodges," I also was sworn in as Mayor after winning my first election. Serving as Mayor of the City of Charlestown has been the joy of my life. I guided our city through a global pandemic, helped revitalize a depressed economic environment, and adopted a development protocol that prioritized our people.
Now I use my experience in municipal leadership and passion for education to help communities make connections so they can overcome hurdles and thrive.
Understanding local government isn't hard. It's just that they don't teach us this stuff in school anymore!
My goal is simple. I want to empower communities by helping government leaders work WITH residents so that cities and towns across the Hoosier state can THRIVE.
"Radical Transparency is the key to building Public Trust"
I didn't grow up planning to be a politician. My dad's job had us hopping from state to state every two or three years with adventures that spanned from our origin in the Deep South to the hills of Northern California with a few stops in between. It wasn't until I followed my heart (aka my husband) to Southern Indiana that I felt the need to jump into public service by seeking elected office. I took the leap because I saw a community in pain and I envisioned a better way of doing business.
Trust in all levels of government is at a low point in our history. I believe we can restore public trust by reviving civic pride and creating pathways for residents to participate actively in the decisions that impact our daily lives. I've had great success with this model in the City of Charlestown and want to share my approach with you!
