Lawrence, KS – Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS), a local emergency shelter providing 24/7 services to those experiencing homelessness, announces several changes to its Board of Directors.  These changes bring the total number of board members to 8 plus 2 ex officio seats.  

Last fall, LCS began targeted efforts to increase the size of its board to better meet the needs of the agency.  During that time, Board Chair Isabel Johnson announced that she planned to step down at the end of her term but would hold her position until new members were appointed to maintain stability during the transition.  

In February 2022, two new board members were appointed:  Larissa Amundson and Brian Bradfield. Larissa Amundson was elected Board Chair upon the retirement of Isabel Johnson. In June 2022, three more board members were brought onto the team:  Max Fridell, Ajay Nangia, and Jamie Price.  Each new member brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.  Please visit the LCS site to learn about the Board of Directors here.

Melanie Valdez, Interim Executive Director for LCS, shares, “We are very excited about the additions to our board.  Our board is full of highly qualified individuals, and we are very proud of the efforts they have made to better support the agency.”

LCS strives to build a diverse and inclusive board that is reflective of the community it serves.  The only way LCS can be successful in its mission is to make sure the decision makers come to the table with a variety of qualifications, experiences, perspectives, and resources.  LCS will continue recruitment efforts through the next several months to further develop the board including recruitment for an individual with lived experience.  If you are interested in serving on the LCS Board of Directors and feel you could contribute unique skills or perspective, please contact Larissa Amundson larissaa@lawrenceshelter.org.

Lawrence Community Shelter plays a critical role in the local homeless crisis response system by providing low barrier emergency shelter services.  LCS is dedicated to working with community members, community partners, the city, and the county to obtain the shared goal to end homelessness in our communities.