Kitty Lawrence
Director, Non-Profit Leadership
St. Louis,MO
Summary
Mission-driven nonprofit leader, educator, and artist with over 5 years of leadership experience spanning behavioral health, community-based arts programming, and animal welfare. Currently serving as Director of Community Support at the Animal Protective Association of Missouri, leading initiatives that support pet guardians facing barriers to pet care through trauma-informed service models.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Education
Master of Arts - Art Therapy Counseling
08.2009
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Studio Art
05.2001
Associate in Applied Science - Veterinary Technology
05.1994
Work History
Director of Community Support
APA of Missouri
St. Louis
11.2022 - Current
- Leads a compassionate team of community-focused individuals who manage support programs that create access to resources for people and pets in disinvested communities.
- Expanded community outreach programs by more than 145% over four years through data-informed decision-making.
- Expanded pet food distribution by 155% to address food insecurity and increase household pet retention.
- Strengthened safety net foster programs, increasing the number of pets served and maintained strong return-to-owner outcomes.
- Recognized for measurable program growth, client centered care, and sustainable community impact.
Community Programs Manager
APA of MO
St. Louis
04.2021 - 11.2022
- Managed Safe Care Program, a safety net foster program for survivors of domestic violence that provides temporary shelter and medical care for pets while owners make their way to safety and expanded program to help families surviving homelessness.
- Organized bi-annual free vaccine events in underserved areas of St. Louis County.
- Managed pet owner support programs that create access to resources for people and pets in disinvested communities. Services include spay/neuter assistance, pet food support, veterinary care and other resources for individuals and families in need.
Humane Educator
APA of MO
St. Louis
02.2020 - 04.2021
- Developed creative activities for and coordinated a volunteer-lead weekly animal-themed story time for pre-K children.
- Created weekly content for social media when in-person visits ceased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Coordinated visits of volunteers and their dogs to residential care facilities throughout the St. Louis area.
- Created alternative ways for volunteers and residents to stay connected when in-person visits ceased due to the pandemic including letter writing campaigns and window visits.
- Authored a quarterly newsletter to share with program partners to highlight volunteers, activities, and APA programs.
- Developed creative classes that celebrate the human-animal bond including a pet memorial class to help reduce stigma associated with grief over the loss of a pet.
Outreach Specialist
Perennial StL
St. Louis
01.2017 - 02.2020
- Developed lesson plans, prepared materials, and taught monthly creative reuse workshops to five social service partner agencies serving women transitioning from domestic violence, human trafficking, incarceration, and homelessness as well as an immigrant and refugee population.
- Maintained positive and professional relationships with all clients and partner agencies. Ensured workshops were inclusive, safe, and fun.
- Facilitated a weekly open-studio-format workshop for clients to work on self-identified creative reuse projects. Assisted in designing, planning, and creating projects. Skills taught during this time included hand and machine sewing, jewelry making, mosaics, soldering, leather working, weaving, furniture refinishing and upholstering, and other craft and creative processes.
- Supervised art therapy graduate students during semester-long practicum experiences.
- Collected qualitative and quantitative data from monthly workshops and weekly open studio sessions and maintained a blog for the outreach program.
- Taught creative reuse classes for Perennial's public programs.
Skills
- Nonprofit leadership
- Program management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Verbal and written communication
- Relationship building
- Emotional Intelligence
Accomplishments
The Women's Safe House Community Partner of the Year Award, August 2024. Accepted this award on behalf of the APA for spearheading a program to support residents with pets at one of the first pet-inclusive safe houses for survivors of domestic violence in St. Louis.
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
RemoteSalary Range
$65000/yr - $200000/yrTimeline
Director of Community Support - APA of Missouri
11.2022 - Current
Community Programs Manager - APA of MO
04.2021 - 11.2022
Humane Educator - APA of MO
02.2020 - 04.2021
Outreach Specialist - Perennial StL
01.2017 - 02.2020
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Master of Arts, Art Therapy Counseling
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art
Parkland College - Associate in Applied Science, Veterinary Technology