Charlie Bryan (Board President)
Charlie Bryan has 17 years of experience in public health, including expertise in public health budgeting, informatics, community health planning, and public health preparedness. Currently serving as the Business Systems and Finance Manager at Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, Charlie is responsible for examining data to develop findings and recommendations about operations, information technology processes, and financial stewardship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlie served as the Logistics Chief for Douglas County Unified Command and was the Vaccination Branch Lead for COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics. He is a recipient of the 2021 Kay Kent Excellence in Public Health Service Award. In 2017, he was among 40 public health leaders selected as part of the second cohort of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health initiative. Charlie is a trained Kansas Leadership Center teacher and a member of the Leadership Lawrence Class of 2014.
Chuck Magerl
Chuck Magerl has helped found several community organizations in Lawrence devoted to access to good food, housing, and financial services. He has been part of the downtown Lawrence business community since the 1970’s and has fostered ties with agricultural and natural resource organizations across Kansas. In addition, he has served on local and statewide boards and task forces prior to the Lawrence Community Shelter. Chuck has lived in East
Lawrence for over 45 years, and is the proprietor of WheatFields Bakery and Free State Brewery
in Lawrence.
Shannon Oury
Shannon Oury (she/her) – practiced law for 20 years before changing careers to follow her passion to provide affordable housing to low income families. She has held the position of
Executive Director/CEO of the Lawrence - Douglas County Housing Authority since January of 2011. She served on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, on the Board for Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health and was the convener for the Community Health Plan for Safe and Affordable Housing. She is involved in several nationwide organizations that promote affordable housing including as a committee member for the Housing Authority Insurance
Group, and a founding member and Secretary of the Moving to Work Collaborative, which represents housing authorities across the United States.
Chaconie Baker
Chaconie Baker is currently a Project Program Analyst for Maximus. She was an instructor with the company for 7 years prior to becoming an analyst. She used different learning styles like audio, visual and kinesthetic to deliver in person classroom training and virtual training via Webex and Zoom. She has over 20+ years of experience in Customer Service, including 13+ years in Leadership, with a focus on Selection, Training, Supervision and Development.
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Chaconie has an AA in Liberal Arts and BA in Management and Marketing from Washburn University.
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She is a member of the NAACP
She is a Notary Public
She was a Campaign Manager/Co-Chair for a (Candidate) Tonda Hill for Douglas County District Attorney
Jan 2024-Aug 2024.
She is a Lawrence native and wants to use the skills she’s learned to be a service to her community.
Christina Gentry
Christina Gentry (she/her/they) is a community health advocate, mother of five and committed to advancing social justice, and implementing restorative practices in her work and in community. Professionally, she holds a firm 10+ years as an early elementary educator with a focus on STEM curriculum.
During the years 2018-2022, her work as Community Health Liaison at Lawrence Douglas County Public Health expanded during COVID 19. Currently, their professional role is as Curriculum Education Specialist for the Sexual Trauma and Abuse CARE Center.
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They remain committed to building social connection while advocating for programs and policies that promote positive genetic and environmental influences on our futures.
Rebekah Gaston
Rebekah Gaston is an attorney and policy advocate, with experience at nonprofits and government agencies across Kansas. She has devoted her career to advocacy on behalf of underserved individuals, families, and children.