Iola Kostrzewski

Background

About Iola Kostrzewski

I’m a public policy professional, community advocate, and full time student working toward a career in diplomacy and international relations. Currently based in Minnesota, I manage regional community engagement and hate incident response for a national civil rights organization, where I focus on building trust across diverse communities, training law enforcement, and responding to bias-motivated incidents. I’m pursuing my degree in Criminal Justice with plans to continue on to a bachelor’s in Intelligence or International Relations. My long term goal: to serve as a U.S. diplomat focused on human rights, counterterrorism, and cross cultural bridge building. I’m currently learning Arabic and exploring study abroad opportunities in North Africa or the Middle East to deepen my regional and linguistic expertise. I bring 10+ years of experience in grassroots organizing, maternal health equity, and justice based advocacy with a voice rooted in lived experience and a commitment to shaping global policy through a lens of dignity, equity, and peace. Whether in classrooms, statehouses, or community circles, I believe diplomacy begins at home and I carry those values into every room I enter.