Meet Kimberly

Since moving to Northfield in 2008, Kimberly Decker has woven herself into the fabric of the community through professional service, volunteerism and deep personal connections. A lawyer who focuses on estate planning and probate, Kimberly’s life in Northfield began when her husband, Jason Decker, accepted a position as a philosophy and cognitive science professor at Carleton College.

“I’ve served on a lot of different boards in town – the Community Action Center, Women In Northfield Giving Support (WINGS), my church board – getting involved has always felt like an important part of showing up for this community,” Kimberly shares. It was through one of these connections that Kimberly was first introduced to Laura Baker Services Association (LBSA). A dear friend and LBSA board member, Kim Briske, introduced Kimberly to her stepsister, a resident of one of the Laura Baker homes. That personal relationship became the beginning of something much deeper.

“The passion that family has for Laura Baker was contagious,” Kimberly recalls. “And it wrapped up so nicely with the things that matter to me – equity, inclusion and ensuring care for those who are too often overlooked.”

For Kimberly, advocacy didn’t begin with political action or policy work – it began with friendship.

“Emily works in the dish room at Carleton and goes to church with her sister, so I see her every Sunday. We’ve developed this sweet tradition: she loves Diet Coke, so I bring her one. And every week, she texts me reminders. It’s small, but it’s also not. She’s taught me so much about being direct about what you want and need.”

Another close friend, Mary Ellen, lives in a nearby assisted living facility. “She’s 70 now, and she planned her birthday party two years in advance,” Kimberly laughs. “She had cupcakes, an open house and guests from across Minnesota. She’s cultivated this extraordinary network of support from people who’ve known her since she was a kid. It was beautiful. And she made it happen by asking boldly and clearly for what she wanted.”

These friendships have shaped Kimberly’s understanding of what it means to advocate – not from a distance, but up close.

Over time, Kimberly has become a regular supporter of LBSA’s work through fundraising events like the Flannel Gala and the annual golf tournament. Beyond the fundraising, Kimberly has embraced the role of advocate in the broader sense – emailing representatives, speaking up about Medicaid concerns and lending her voice to causes that impact the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community.

“It might seem like the smallest thing – writing an email or making a call – but it all adds up, especially when you have real people in mind. These aren’t abstract policies to me. They’re about Emily and Mary Ellen. They’re about my friends.”

Kimberly offers this simple wisdom for anyone looking to make a difference: “Make friends with someone who is different from you.”

It’s a philosophy that has guided her actions and inspired her involvement – and one that she hopes others in the community will embrace.