Staff
Angel McDonald
Executive Director
Angel@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0452
Angel has been with Mother’s Refuge since 2002. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. As Executive Director, Angel writes and submits grants, oversees the implementation of all programs, staff, and donor relations. Her expertise in grant writing, speaking, and her compassion for homeless young women are a great asset for the organization. Angel is married and enjoys spending time with her adult children, grandchildren, and family.
Kelsi Green
Assistant Executive Director
Kelsi@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0451
Kelsi holds a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Central Missouri and a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has experience in program development, evaluation, management, coordination, and supervision. Kelsi is passionate about helping young mothers find hope in their future and create healthy attachment with their infants. Kelsi is married with one son and one daughter, and in her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, crafting, reading, and being outdoors!
Julie Johnson
Case Manager
Julie@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0455
Julie received her Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Missouri State University in Joplin, Missouri. She joined our staff in 2009. She provides individualized strengths-bases case management for our residents.Julie assists each young woman with planning her educational and parenting goals. Her objective is to challenge each resident to make thoughtful and wise decisions for themselves and their babies. Julie is a dedicated case manager, passionate about helping pregnant, young women improve their lives and achieve success.
Kate Beem
Therapist
Kate@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0462
Kate holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. After a career as a newspaper journalist and an eight-year stint as a court-appointed special advocate in Jackson County, Kate returned to school and received a master's degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. As a licensed clinical social worker, Kate has provided psychotherapy to children in foster care and parents working to regain custody of their children, as well as teaching parenting classes to parents in the family court system. Since joining the Mother's Refuge staff in 2019, Kate has provided therapy services to residents and participants in the after-care program, as well as teaching a weekly class on healthy relationships. Kate and her husband have three adult children and many dogs and cats.
Eraina Buie
Houseparent Supervisor
Eraina@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0458
Eraina began her journey with Mother’s Refuge as a Houseparent in October of 2019. That role has allowed her to bring firsthand experience to her current position as Houseparent Supervisor. Her passion for helping young mothers become more productive, resourceful and informed on how to be the best parent they can be for their children, truly shows in her work. Because of her personal experience as a teen mother, she exudes great compassion and support to the young mothers she works with. Eraina is married with 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Her faith and family keep her motivated to continue in what she was truly called to do here at Mother’s Refuge.
Jessie Moreno
Outreach Coordinator
Jessie@MothersRefuge.org
913-940-7280
Jessie received a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Ottawa University. She also attended a leadership program centered upon urban ministry within the inner city of Los Angeles, California. It was here where she found a deep passion for serving others through helping provide lasting resources and breaking cycles of poverty. After touring our home, Jessie fell in love with the core values and beliefs that Mother's Refuge is founded upon. Now, she is a part of our team! Jessie is currently engaged and in the middle of wedding planning. She loves spending time with family, friends, and volunteering at church. She also enjoys dancing, running, hammocking, or anything else that you can do outdoors.
Shelby Carpenter
Shelby@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0450
Shelby began her journey with Mother’s Refuge as a volunteer in spring of 2019. This is where her love for our mission started as she saw how the moms and babies learn and grow through our program here! As Administrative Assistant, Shelby now oversees crisis calls, assists with bookkeeping and tax credits, maintains communication with donors, and office organization. Shelby's biggest hope for Mother's Refuge is seeing God use our staff, other residents in our program, volunteers and donors to pour life into these moms and their babies, and to be the hands and feet of Christ while restoring hope in them. Shelby is passionate about spending time with friends and family, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Shelby and her husband, Joel, have been happily married since the summer of 2020 and have two dogs, Waverly and Finley which they love to take on their adventures!
Kimberlee Peppers
TLP Case Manager
Kimberlee@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0454
Kimberlee graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 2003 with a degree in Psychology and immediately found a job with Mother's Refuge as a Case Manager. She was thrilled to have her dream job right out of college! She left Mother's Refuge to start a family but has returned a couple of different times and in different roles including as the Program Manager for several years. Kimberlee is so excited to be back and a part of our Transitional Living Program as it was a dream of hers for many years to have a place for the moms to transition after living at the shelter. She loves working with our moms one-on-one and encouraging them that they can be successful no matter what. Kimberlee is married to her husband of 17 years and has 5 beautiful children who light up her life every day. Kimberlee loves coffee, plants and sunshine!!
Alicia Janssen
Development Specialist
Alicia@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0464
Alicia came to Mother's Refuge as a Social Work intern in the fall of 2021. After her internship year was up, she was asked to stay on full-time as our grant manager and assisting the development team. Alicia is passionate about helping others escape poverty and she fell in love with Mother's Refuge mission of EMPOWERING young mothers and RESTORING their hope. Alicia will finish her Master's Degree in Social Work from KU in May of 2023. She loves reading fiction, traveling to national parks or other countries, and playing any sort of game (video, card, board, pickleball, you name it!). Alicia and her husband, Greg, have been happily married since 2018. They have two puppies, a beagle named Rey and a corgi named Luna. Alicia has a weird obsession with corgis and she wants you to tell your dog or cat she says "hi".
Chris Myers
Development Director
Chris@MothersRefuge.org
816-800-0453
Chris began his journey with Mother's Refuge in February of 2023. With over 19 years in the non-profit space, he has spent significant time working with people of all ages through several ministries and organizations fundraising, marketing, communications and video/graphic design. Most recently Chris moved from San Antonio, Texas where he was a property manager of a large student housing complex. As a father of 4 young children, Chris knows how important it is to have a circle of support in raising kids. It's for this reason he is honored to be a part of Mother's Refuge! In his free time Chris enjoys going on adventures with his kids, hiking, camping, reading and grilling!