ON HER OWN TERMS:

MARA BRUST HAS ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS AND DRIVEN. “In preschool I was bothering the teachers when we were supposed to be playing,” said the petite, graceful blonde as she gave a quick tour of her beautifully curated downtown condo.

The Fargo native flew through her lessons in class, attended Trollwood Performing Arts School and thrived in the disciplined world of dance at Gasper’s School of Dance, a place she credits with helping hone her work ethic. Brust was also the kind of girl who had saved $100 from her $1 a week allowance by the first grade. She’s the kind of woman who only reveals this fact when pressed, after curious visitors ask about a small gold safe tucked into a shelf of beloved books, meaningful objects and childhood photos.

The precocious Brust skipped 7th and 8th grades. She received her diploma from Fargo North High School three years early and graduated summa cum laude from North Dakota State with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Broadcasting & Mass Communication Technologies in just five semesters. And she did it all by age 17, months before the kids playing next to her in preschool graduated from high school.

And she wasn’t done. Not by a long shot. Brust interned for both Senator Byron Dorgan and the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, volunteered at Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota in Moorhead and served as a Legal Extern in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fargo. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law and returned to Fargo as a licensed attorney. She was 21 years old. She was handling commercial litigation, personal injury and family law cases at Conmy Feste, Ltd. around the same time her preschool classmates had their first legal drink.

Two factors drew Brust back to Fargo. She wanted to continue a family tradition of fighting for justice alongside her father, Kim E.

Brust, at Conmy Feste. And she wanted to put down roots in her home city. “Nothing shapes a person's life more than the community where they live,” she said.

A commitment to creating a vibrant, supportive community is central to Brust’s mission for her career and her life. And she doesn’t believe in sitting by and letting other people lead. Brust serves on the City of Fargo Planning Commission and The Arts Partnership Board of Directors. She is a member of the Fargo Moorhead Ballet, the Young Professionals Network and numerous other professional organizations.

She also entered the Fargo City Commission race in 2014 and ran again in the 2015 special election prompted by Mayor Walaker’s passing. Brust’s campaigns championed the arts and local small business and advocated for environmentally responsible urbanism in order to build a community that will retain and attract a talented workforce. She didn’t win, but her presence in the race cemented Brust’s role as one of FargoMoorhead’s next generation of leaders.

DON'T WAIT FOR PERMISSION. DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO ASK. IF YOU SEE A NEED THAT MATCHES YOUR INTERESTS OR TALENTS, MAKE IT HAPPEN.

And she hasn’t stopped performing. She just finished the “Legacy” show at Gasper’s School of Dance and will dance the lead role of Clara in FM Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” during the holiday season.

When she’s not working, dancing or advocating for Fargo-Moorhead, Brust finds refuge in art, music (she plays the white Yamaha that sits serenely in her living room) and her sleek, comfortable home. Her commitment to local community extends to the books on her coffee table (which feature regional authors and explore community building and urban design) and the art on her walls. She is a passionate, knowledgeable collector of local art with a keen instinct for what works in her space. The modern lines of a Steve Revland accent table, Andrew Stark’s abstract paintings and the neutral, industrial edge of multimedia works by Mike Marth take on a new softness amidst the plum walls and plush rugs in Brust’s quietly feminine home.

Her hometown has proved to be a perfect fit for a young woman who believes in forging her own path. “I feel incredibly lucky to be a young professional in Fargo-Moorhead,” she said. “There are so many opportunities to be involved and truly make an impact. I'm not sure I could be an attorney/ballerina/planning commissioner in any other place! The FM area is so receptive to and enthusiastic about new ideas and projects.”

She has simple advice for people who want to live a life of purpose. It’s the same wisdom she would pass on to her younger self, gleaned from years of trusting in her own vision. “Don't wait for permission. Don't wait for someone to ask,” she said. “If you see a need that matches your interests or talents, make it happen.” [AWM]