Safety Superheroes: Olivia Lippens and Ashley Hay

After the horrific mass murder of children at Sandy Hook Elementary, schools across the country rushed to find ways to make their buildings safer. The Mercer Island School District commissioned an outside consultant to recommend a comprehensive safety plan. But the district didn’t take any further action — until a group of local parents got involved. The campaign for lockdown and school access procedures led to the formation of MOMS for Safe Mercer Island (M4SMI), a grassroots group of moms, dads, grandparents and community members dedicated to building a safer community.

In nine years, M4SMI’s work has expanded to include a variety of safety and access issues, including gun violence prevention, advocating for the island’s first inclusive playground, fentanyl education programs and more. Currently, one of the group’s most active campaigns is working for internet safety programs and technology policies in schools.

Meet two of M4SMI’s most committed advocates, Olivia Lippens and Ashley Hay.

“Becoming a parent made me view the world with greater depth, complexity and purpose. It moved me to ensure a safe and supportive environment where our children could thrive. This safety net extends far beyond the home and into the community,” explains Hay.

“At the core of our work is a desire to protect the most vulnerable residents of our i

sland. In our efforts, this includes children, the elderly, families of all generations. The commonality [across all our work] is to create safe experiences and places for people who can’t always advocate for themselves,” Lippens adds. That means public safety is as much about inclusiveness and community as it is about regulations and protocols.

“This is not just our police and our laws, but safety is also the way in which people occupy the public spaces that they utilize every single day. If people and kids don’t feel safe, they can’t get much else done … to grow and explore and become their best self! Safety really is one of the cornerstones of a great community (and a great childhood),” says Lippens.

Besides the peace of mind that comes with a sense of security, the group’s belief in looking out for each other helps M4SMI generate more tangible benefits for the community.

“When the community comes together for a common goal, it leaves a beautiful lasting impact. One example that comes to mind is the Mercerdale Playground, a wonderful collaborative effort which resulted in the first inclusive playground on Mercer Island,” says Hay.

Get to know more of our 2025 Superheroes!