By Christina Fernández-Morrow, Hola Iowa
On May 9, 2025 Anna Maria Campos sat in an auditorium surrounded by vibrant pink, yellow and blue lights as photographers moved about the room, smiles across everyone’s faces. Campos sat among dozens of women, girls and those who support them at the Inspiring Women of Iowa awards – a fundraising event benefitting Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa. Amidst the excitement, Campos wondered if she would win the Courage Award for which she was nominated, and who had submitted her for the honor.
When the time came to announce the winners from among the 16 finalists, Campos learned that she had been nominated by Jackie Norris, her colleague on the Des Moines School Board. “She knows how important her role is to represent her community on the school board, and that voice is really important,” said Norris in a video shown at the event that highlighted the work of the nominees.
The recognition was highly personal for Campos, a native of Des Moines’ east side, whose commitment to her community was born from tragedy.
In April 2022, Campos’ fourteen-year-old daughter, Ema was struck and killed in a hit-and-run collision while walking home from school. The intersection where she was killed had been the scene of previous accidents, many resulting in injuries and even paralysis, but Ema was the first death. Her tragic loss was a catalyst that transformed Campos. “My world ended and it could have gone two ways. But because of my kids, I did not want anybody else to have that pain,” she says.
Fueled by her experience, she took on the Department of Transportation (DOT) and challenged the Des Moines Public Schools to reevaluate student safety. “After Ema was killed, I had the courage to speak up at a school board meeting and then speak up at a city council meeting. I didn’t let the DOT tell me we can’t fix this part of University because it’s a state highway.”
After a year of advocacy, Campos not only succeeded in getting expanded school zones across the city, she also ran and won a seat representing District 3 on the Des Moines School Board.
Photo by Whitney Warne
She’s not motivated by recognition, but rather a strong desire to make the world a better place for her five children who work alongside her to honor their lost sister. With characteristic humility Campos admits, “I have bad days sometimes and I’ll see someone at the grocery store and they recognize me and thank me because their kids are safer going to school. Running for school board was a whole other challenge and I felt like, ‘this is not me. I’m not this type of person that would do this’, but for the safety of our kids and advocating, I did.”
Campos didn’t stop with the added safety measures and being a voice on the school board. In 2023, she organized Ema’s Memorial Event, where she led the effort to gift 79 pairs of new Vans shoes to every 8th grade girl at Hiatt Middle School. The choice of Vans was a tribute to Ema’s favorite brand, and the event marked the first initiative of Simply Loved, the nonprofit Campos launched to empower young women. The mission is to eliminate clothing insecurity by providing free clothes, shoes and accessories via a mobile boutique. The idea is that every shopper gets personalized attention and fashion advice from volunteers who can help them choose pieces for school, formal events, athletics and more, including hygiene products and a brand new pair of shoes. In addition, Campos wants to offer programming that includes mentoring and parenting classes. The ultimate goal is to foster confidence, dignity and self-worth through compassionate community care and support so girls can thrive at a time when most girls battle insecurities and lack of self-assurance.
Currently, Simply Loved is collecting new and slightly used clothing items that appeal to girls ages 10-18, as well as funds to purchase a new or used trailer that Campos plans to convert into the boutique. They are hosting a launch and graduation party to honor what would have been Ema’s high school graduation year on July 10, 2025 at the Downtown Hampton Inn in Des Moines. Campos is preparing to announce their future plans, collecting items for the mobile clothing closet, and funds to make it happen. For more information, Campos encourages people to follow them on Facebook @SimplyLoved or email her at [email protected] to get more involved.
As she looks to the future, her vision set on serving her community and strengthening her daughter’s legacy, the grief remains, but so does the purpose it ignited. “I think with that pain, you have to turn it into something else; into something good,“ she says with optimism in her voice. Campos is not only an example of turning tragedy into triumph, but this courageous woman serves as an inspiration, showing what’s possible when hope lives on, even in your darkest hours.
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