At iACT, we are so grateful for our Board of Directors! In this Board Spotlight, Kelly Shoenfelt tells us a little more about herself.
Kelly Shoenfelt
Q: Where are you from? How long have you lived in Austin?
A: I was born and raised in Houston, but have been in Austin for 11 years. If I count my years in college at UT, I suppose I’ve been here 15 years total, with a decade in Dallas in between those moves.
Q: How long have you served on the iACT Board?
A: This is the end of my second year.
Q: What made you want to serve as an iACT Board Member?
A: My friend John McGlothlin invited me to consider it and I trust John immensely. He was serving on the Board at the time and his invitation opened me to the work being done by iACT to create spaces for many voices in the midst of a crisis of division in our world, and this felt like a good place to dedicate energy to helping our community.
Q: What do you enjoy the most about your role as a Board Member of iACT?
A: I enjoy learning from such wise and thoughtful leaders with whom I have the pleasure of serving. Each time we gather, it reminds me that the loudest narratives of division are not the truest.
Q: What’s the most challenging thing about working as a Board Member of iACT?
A: My term of service started during two particularly challenging times for me. First of all, I started on the Board during the pandemic and it was difficult to be fully engaged with this work when I was not able to meet some of my fellow Board Members until well into my first year. Secondly, I began my term during a season in which I was in a bit of my own faith crisis as the church I was pastoring was facing many challenges and eventually closed. Those things drained much of the energy which I was hoping to offer in my commitment to serve this organization. It never drained my belief in iACT itself though, which is a testament to the fact that our work transcends our own personal beliefs and is upheld by the many.
Q: What’s the most rewarding thing about being a Board Member of iACT?
A: I am always honored to learn from the various Board members and supporters and I love being a part of the hospitable and philanthropic work that seeks to better lives in our very own city. I think the most rewarding thing is witnessing interfaith relationships that flourish through a shared vision of community.
Q: Why would you encourage others to support the work?
A: iACT does so much work to tangibly help open dialogue amongst people, create opportunities for refugees, and help provide educational opportunities for so many youth and adults. In a culture that thrives on echo chambers and controlling the narratives of our own liking, iACT is a place where we can be vulnerable, recognize that no one has all the answers, and seek to come together for the common good of our neighbor. There are many ways to be a part of this foundational neighboring work and I love that iACT has a place for all to contribute.
