LISC Greater Kansas City Team Members Share 2023 Professional Achievements
LISC Greater Kansas City accomplished much in 2023 with multiple initiatives, programs, events and community endeavors. Through it all, our team was steadfast and rose to the challenge of continuing to meet the varying needs of the Kansas City area while coordinating and investing resources that grow community pride and revitalize neighborhoods into healthy, sustainable communities. Along the way, we realized several professional achievements. Learn what some of our team members consider their personal favorites below.
- Holly Long, Development Officer: “My professional highlight is writing the Ralph Yarl op-ed and meeting him in person at our Thrive event. To see Ralph’s resilience after all he’s been through is a testament to his character as a person. I am so excited to watch Ralph’s purpose unveil in front of our very eyes. His story has changed the narrative of the ‘unarmed black man shot and killed due to his skin color.’ He lived to tell his story and change the hearts and minds of the world.”
- Abigail Hayo, Assistant Program Officer: “Every year my professional highlight is working with videographer Bobby Pitts to produce the Thrive Honoree videos. I learn so much about the incredible work that these people/organizations are doing in our community. I get to take part in the interview process, getting to hear from them directly and see and/or experience their work firsthand.”
- Kelli Hearn, Program Officer, Financial Stability: “In February of this year, I passed the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exam above target in all three sections. I’d taken a certification program through Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 2021 and then studied for two months at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 in preparation for this exam. For project management nerds, it’s a big accomplishment, and I’m very proud.”
- Jeremy Staab, Program Officer, Lending: “My favorite professional highlight of 2023 is joining the Kansas City LISC team and making the transition from a real estate development company to a national CDFI.”
- Amanda Wilson, Senior Program Officer: “Being honored as Empower Missouri’s Affordable Housing Advocate of the Year; getting to start on the regional housing fund with amazing consultants (Folks Capital and Kansas City Community Land Trust); and getting to partner with three neighborhoods (Washington Wheatley, South Round Top, the Marlborough and Kansas City Community Land Trusts) and three consultants (Hoxie Collective, Accomak Development Group, and Multistudio) to do a different approach in creating neighborhood development and resiliency plans that really centers around neighborhood leaders and residents, and building their knowledge, tools, and resources to be effective in bringing about the development they want to see.”
- Andrea Generaux, Housing and Capacity Building Program Officer: “I was honored to receive the Wyandotte County Safe and Affordable Housing Action Team’s first-ever Affordable Housing Trailblazer award! I had no idea I was being honored and was so humbled by all of the support and kind words that were shared by my friends and colleagues.”
With residents and partners, LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, work, visit, do business and raise families. However, in order to be successful, our team must be on one accord. We appreciate having a team that cares for our region and we look forward to seeing what new professional achievements await in 2024.