Carmen is deeply committed to community involvement, frequently volunteering for causes she’s passionate about. She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Fisher House Wisconsin, the Wisconsin chapter of Fisher House Foundation, which provides a home away from home for the families of veterans seeking nearby medical treatment at the VA. Fisher House promotes that healing is best accomplished when family is close by for support. Fisher House Wisconsin has recently obtained permission to build an additional home in Madison, and Carmen is assisting with leading the capital campaign. With veterans in her own family, Carmen has seen first-hand the important role that family provides to service members and the country both during and after overseas tours.
In addition, Carmen serves on the audit and compliance committee of Versiti Blood and Research Center, a blood and organ donation and research organization. She is Vice President of the local chapter of the University of Iowa’s alumni organization, and she also volunteers with Bay Bridge, an organization aiming to make the community of Whitefish Bay more racially inclusive.
Carmen also places a high priority on pro bono work, and she has long been a regular volunteer with the Milwaukee Volunteer Lawyers Center, where she helps individuals without the resources to hire an attorney.