11/12/2025
Yeah Addy! We are glad she's a part of our team.
Meet Addy Grim Kaune. She is an apprentice investigator for the Waterloo Human Rights Commission (WHRC).
In 2021, a conversation with Mayor Quentin Hart inspired her to find a meaningful way to serve her community. With a background in history and sociology, she wanted to give back to the city she loves while applying her academic interests in a real-world setting.
Hart connected her with Executive Director Abraham Funchess and Addy joined the WHRC as an intern, which she explains launched a career rooted in compassion, equity, and community service.
Addy credits her parents for shaping her moral compass. “They taught me to respect others, love unconditionally, and use the gifts I was given to help my community,” she says.
She describes her hometown of Waterloo as “exceedingly diverse” and she is fiercely protective of its people and potential.
During her college years, Addy became a passionate advocate for equity and equality, developing the conviction that continues to guide her work today.
Most of Addy’s work involves employment discrimination cases, where she values the careful, methodical process of investigation. She is currently developing a proposal to help clients better understand their rights, their role in the process, and how WHRC investigations work by making the system more transparent and empowering for residents.
“When residents come to us, many are at the end of their rope,” Addy shared. “It’s not just about the injustice they’ve faced; it’s about their mental health, finances, and the isolation that can come from speaking out.”
Her approach begins with empathy, striving to make every individual feel heard and supported. She believes this is key to ensuring the Commission remains a safe, welcoming space for all.
With a foundation in history and sociology, Addy brings a fresh, analytical perspective to the department. “Viewing discrimination through a historical and sociological lens adds a new element to the team,” she explains, emphasizing how understanding patterns of inequity over time deepens her work in the present.
Working in Human Rights has given Addy a broader view of how city departments collaborate to serve residents. “I’ve learned how our city functions as an entity and how many departments support our mission. It’s essential that we cooperate as a city toward a common goal.”
One of Addy’s most formative experiences was traveling to Rwanda to study its justice system.
“I met individuals who were both victims and perpetrators of genocide; people who now live peacefully side by side,” she reflects. “Their resilience inspires me daily to keep working toward peace and equity.”
Addy’s long-term advocacy goals focus on genocide awareness and prevention. She hopes to help reform how these issues are discussed and addressed globally. “It’s a taboo topic, but identifying and taking action against genocide is essential… not just abroad, but in understanding its echoes within our own communities.”
Recently married, Addy describes this new chapter of life as “challenging and fulfilling.” She and her husband share both of their family names to honor their parents and grandparents.
The couple recently purchased a newly renovated home in Waterloo, where they live with their five cats and are adding personal touches to make it truly their own. When she’s not working, Addy enjoys reading, traveling, and spending quality time with friends and family.
