Purpose, Focus, and Practice

Once joyfully known as "the smiling barracuda," Joyce Cohen was a force in Oregon politics for over twenty years-formidably forging ground-breaking legislation: the Oregon Health Care Plan, criminal justice reform, and the use of Lottery funds for education and the environment. Her biography shares lessons of growing up on an isolated South Dakota farm, work on pioneering heart surgery, and taking up social activism to become the first female chair of the powerful Judiciary Committees in the Legislature. Despite a paralyzing stroke, she retrained her body using Tai Chi and reframed her mind using the forces of nature. Joyce's life illustrates how purpose, focus, and practice can surmount overwhelming difficulty. Whether you are a young woman entering the fray of politics or a retired senior facing the challenges of aging, her story offers insight and hope.