The Village Community is a small, non-profit, disability service and advocacy organization located in Johnson County. The mission of The Village Community is to provide a place where people with intellectual disabilities are nurtured and valued, a place where they will be engaged in all aspects of their lives, living and learning alongside their friends, family, and members of the community.

Annie is a co-founder and Executive Director of The Village Community. She has nearly three decades of experience working in the field of disability services and advocacy.

For over 40 years, Mary has supported people and families with end-of-life care. Professionally, Mary earned a PhD in Human Development and Aging. She taught at a university, while doing community-based research and service. After retiring, Mary began volunteering at the Senior Center in Iowa City, facilitating groups on caregiving, end-of-life, and grief.

Mary's specialty is family communication and values-based decision-making. By clarifying and articulating values about what is most important, decisions can be made and communicated clearly, reducing stress, easing the passage through death, and avoiding conflicted grief and bereavement. Through close listening and reflection, and the development of clear communication skills, Mary strives to support all those involved in the dying process to feel a sense of peace.

Annie and Mary work together to support families and provide community education. Mary and Annie are available as back up for each other to ensure families don’t go without support.

Back to Ground is a conservation project in Johnson County, Iowa whose mission is to offer ecologically sound burial options and establish the land as a nature preserve. To quote their vision statement, “Our commitment is to the preservation of natural habitats, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship for future generations. We are dedicated to maintaining a peaceful, respectful space for conservation burial and remembrance. Back to Ground seeks to create a meaningful legacy that honors both the lives of those interred and the land that sustains us all. “

Annie enthusiastically serves on the Board of Directors of Back to Ground

Roxanne Erdahl has been guiding individuals, leaders, and communities for over 25 years through her work in coaching, team development, and personal transformation. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and an ontological coach whose approach is rooted in the integration of body, emotion, and language.

Drawing from her background as an entrepreneur, community builder, and lifelong student of human connection, her work is also shaped by over 13 years of training and certification in the work of Brené Brown, grounded in vulnerability, courage, and wholehearted living.

Her work is not about fixing, but about creating space—space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what is true. Through thoughtful inquiry, compassionate listening, and clear, actionable steps, Roxanne supports her clients in gaining clarity, navigating life transitions, and moving forward with intention and courage.

She specializes in working with those who may feel untethered or at a crossroads—whether in life, relationships, recovery, or career—and helps them find their footing again, one honest step at a time. Drawing from her own lived experience and decades of involvement in recovery communities, she also facilitates small groups and gatherings, including Rising Strong in Recovery, offering grounded, supportive spaces for reflection, connection, and healing.

Roxanne is deeply grateful to offer her coaching at Peace of Soul in Iowa City, a space that reflects the essence of her work—connection, healing, and coming home to oneself. She is honored to share this space with her dear friend and collaborator, Annie Brownsberger. Together, they co-created Woven Together, a women’s circle designed to bring women into grounding, connection, and empowered next steps.

To book a session, please email roxanne@erdahlcoaching.com or call 319-530-4016.

The Death Collective of Eastern Iowa is dedicated to providing death-positive community events and conversations, education and planning, and providing access to non-medical supportive end-of-life care with certified death doulas and our network of community partners. Annie has been a member of the collective since summer 2025.