[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 157 (Friday, September 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING SABETHA MUMM AS IOWAN OF THE WEEK

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                           HON. CYNTHIA AXNE

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2020

  Mrs. AXNE. Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join 
me in celebrating an Iowan who models the promise of the American Dream 
and someone who has turned their passion for dance into a thriving 
small business. It is my great honor to recognize Sabetha Mumm, the 
owner of Dance Vision in Johnston, as Iowan of the Week.
  A lifelong dancer, Sabetha always knew she was meant to share her 
love of dance with others. After one semester of college as a pre-law 
major, she switched to a dance major, eventually graduating with a 
Bachelor of Arts in Dance with Honors. Without enough resources to help 
her career in dance immediately come to fruition, she initially opted 
for a more traditional career path in an office setting.
  Years later while encouraging her young son to follow his dreams, she 
realized she needed to do the same. She wanted to lead by example for 
her children and provide young Iowans the resources she hadn't had to 
pursue their dreams of careers in dance. With the support of her 
family, the native Iowan dedicated the next few years to researching 
and planning her business: Dance Vision. Since opening in 2003, Mumm 
has grown Dance Vision from a rented, 2,500 square foot space with one 
studio to a custom-designed, 12,000 square foot facility with five 
different studios.
  Thousands of talented students have come through her classes and 
several hundred have gone on to find professional success as dancers in 
the United States and abroad. They've graced Broadway shows, advanced 
through televised dance competitions, toured with world-famous musical 
artists, and been featured in music videos, Sabetha credits this 
overwhelming success to the spirit and work ethic of Iowans. There's 
plenty of talent here, she says, and now a resource to help it 
flourish.
  After learning more about Sabetha's journey and growing venture, it 
came as no surprise that she was named the Small Business 
Administration's 2020 Iowa Small Businessperson of the Year: a 
prestigious honor very well deserved.
  Businesses like Sabetha's are vital to the success of any community. 
This is a fact we see more each day as the pandemic stretches on. As a 
small business owner myself, I know it is an incredible challenge to 
start and maintain that vision. Sabetha's drive to pursue her dream is 
inspiring--that kind of leap is not for the faint of heart. Her 
decision has clearly paid off as we celebrate her success and thriving 
dance studio today. She's helping kids and families find joy through 
movement and self-expression and is passing her passion for dance down 
to new generations. She is a perfect example of how strategic 
collaboration, creativity, a little patience, and a lot of hard work 
can make your dreams a reality.
  As I've traveled all 16 counties across my district, one thing every 
place has in common is that women are who hold our communities 
together. Whether it's through volunteering at church, providing child 
care for neighbors, organizing an annual festival, or operating a 
successful small business--the ladies in our communities are getting 
things done.
  Sabetha says, ``The only dreams impossible to reach are the ones that 
you never pursue.'' It is people with that kind of spirit that make 
Iowa such a great place to live, have a family, and grow a business. I 
will continue to fight in Congress for small business owners like 
Sabetha to ensure the American dream will always be alive in our 
community. It is my honor to recognize Sabetha Mumm as our Iowan of the 
Week.

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