Awake Warmly Welcomes New Associate Director, Whitney True Francis
Update 9/20/24: Unfortunately, Whitney’s time with Awake was cut short due to illness. While we are deeply disappointed to have lost Whitney from our staff so soon after she got started, we honor and respect her discernment that this is what is best for her and her family after some recent health news. Although she was only on our staff for a short time, Whitney had already become a valued member of the Awake community, and we wish her all the best.
On September 4, Awake joyfully welcomed Whitney True Francis, our second full-time staff member. Whitney will bring her gifts and expertise to Awake's communications, public relations, fundraising efforts, and various new and established programs. Adding Whitney to our staff will allow us to better respond to the increased interest in our mission and programs, and we are grateful for all of the generous donors who are making this step possible. As Whitney begins her work with Awake, we asked her a few questions about her background, personal life, and hopes for this role.
Q. We’d love to give everyone a chance to know more about you, Whitney. To start, tell us a little about your professional background. What path brought you to Awake?
Whitney True Francis
Whitney True Francis: I have worked in victim’s services and advocacy for about a decade. I started as a volunteer as an undergraduate in college, but my first professional position in advocacy was as an education specialist with an incredible organization here in Kansas City, Missouri, called MOCSA, a rape crisis center. While I was there, I discovered the power of conversation about sexual violence to both prevent it and respond to wounds after assault. I was also honored to accompany victims to the emergency room if they chose to disclose their assault, undergo an exam, and get medical care. The work of holding space for victims in these moments and their willingness to allow me into that space were truly sacred to me. And it taught me a deep appreciation for the power it takes to disclose, report, and ask for medical help after an assault.
Later I worked as a bridge program coordinator for a domestic violence agency called the Rose Brooks Center. I continued to accompany victims and survivors to local emergency rooms, and I also facilitated educational programming, policy creation, and reform across the hospital system. I ran an education program to teach hospital staff about trauma-informed approaches with victims and worked alongside hospital administration and the forensic program leadership to evaluate policy and find opportunities to institute more survivor-centered policies and procedures. During this time I also served on a community-led sexual assault task force and advocated for restorative approaches to victims and survivors.
Because I was interested in changing systems and cultures to prevent sexual violence, I then accepted a position with the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph as the victim assistance coordinator and as the survivor community manager with Journey to Bethany, a lay-led organization that focuses on providing support for those impacted by sexual abuse within the Church. During my time at the diocese I earned a certification in restorative justice and advocated for more restorative and survivor-centered policies and procedures. I was also fortunate to become a conflict mediator focused on transformative interpersonal conversations. My hope was to better facilitate safe spaces where survivors, clergy, church leadership, and lay people could connect and work together toward systems change and collective healing.
Q. So you have a long history of accompanying victim-survivors and fostering important conversations. What led you to apply for this role with Awake?
A. I found myself spending a significant amount of time in prayer and discernment around how I could serve survivors and where my contributions would best align with advocating for real transformation within the Church and its response to the abuse crisis. I knew I was drawn to a survivor-centered approach rooted in restorative practices. I met Sara Larson through a healing resources group that we were both a part of, and that’s how I discovered Awake.
Q. Whitney, could you describe your faith journey?
A. I’ve always felt the Holy Spirit in my life, but it took me a long time to decide as an adult to get baptized and officially join a parish. I made that commitment about four years ago and it led me to step into my previous role with the diocese. Once I joined the Caholic Church, it was important to me to be a part of positive change and to work to create a better version of the institution, one that didn’t accept or normalize sexual violence and that valued responding in love and accountability.
Q. What does your life look like outside of work?
A. I have a beautiful family! My husband Ali and our three kiddos are my light. Jude (13), Lavender (2), and baby Summer (6 months) inspire my husband and me every day. We enjoy spending time outdoors, baking and eating sweet treats, and working out as a family. We believe in meeting each other wherever we are as much as possible, laughing a lot, and trying not to sweat the small stuff. Personally, I love to sing, practice yoga, and meditate. And I am really interested in self-compassion and working with others to develop their self-care practices.
Q. That sounds terrific, Whitney. Thanks for telling us about yourself. As we close, what are you the most excited about in your work with Awake?
A. Honestly, there is so much that I look forward to in working with Awake! Working alongside the development committee to find creative and meaningful ways to build Awake’s community of donors is exciting to me. And although my role is largely administrative, I anticipate the opportunity to be a part of some programming, including assisting with the Bridge Dialogues. This program has the potential to foster restorative experiences for all involved, which I find really powerful. For now, I am focused on listening and learning from all the different voices in the Awake community, which is meaningful and fruitful. I do look forward to helping Awake imagine its future as time goes on and I am inspired to think of all the incredible things that Awake will continue to accomplish alongside survivors.
—Interview by Erin O’Donnell
