Staff Spotlight: Ashley
Team Newhouse
Meet Ashley Thompson!
Ashley started at Newhouse in 2022 as an intern working towards her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in the Advocates Office, where she was on point to answer the 24/7 Crisis Hotline and support residents with daily needs.
Today, she is the Director of Community Engagement, helping connect volunteers to projects and needs at Newhouse, while also creating impactful experiences for those volunteers. In 2023, she supported 785 volunteers who gave 8,753 hours of their time to Newhouse. Wow! Additionally, she coordinates most in-kind donations, which are vital for our clients.
Supporting Survivors and Volunteers
Ashley supports survivors in many ways, including building relationships with them while they live at Newhouse, securing necessary items for residential and outreach clients, and working with volunteers to ensure our programs and facility operate as best as possible.
She works diligently to create partnerships that benefit our clients and ease their access to specific services at Newhouse and in the community. She also loves assisting clients with their pets, who are welcome to come with their owners into shelter.
“Helping clients with their pets has been very fulfilling as it combines two of my passions, people and animals.” – Ashley
Ashley and her dog, Montana
Her inspiration
In high school, Ashley was involved with an agency that provided domestic violence education and awareness. It quickly became a social issue that spoke to her and has since. In college, she continued learning about the field and it felt like she was supposed to be doing this work.
What She Wants People to Know About Domestic Violence
“Many people facing domestic violence are facing a slew of other complex barriers and challenges in their life. It takes time, patience, kindness, and support to overcome all the different things they may have on their plate.”
She recalls a time when she supported a client during a mental health crisis. A few days later, the client came to her and said “I know you probably don’t get to hear this very often, but the way you show up for people here helps more than you may see. I really appreciate everything you did the other day, and I have been feeling a lot better; thank you for being a part of that.”
Ashley makes a difference every single day, and we are glad she gets to hear about her impact from clients.
What She Tells Survivors
“There is no judgment for the choices you made while facing domestic violence. You are and always will be worthy of healthy relationships and self-love.”
When she is not supporting survivors, Ashley enjoys getting creative with art, listening to music, gardening, and spending time outside. Below, you can see a picture of Ashley and her coworker, Mahrukh, who both graduated with masters degrees in 2024! Congratulations, Ashley!
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Thank you, Ashley, for serving survivors at Newhouse through your gifts and talents.
Ready to Get Involved?
Newhouse welcomes individuals and volunteer groups to support survivors year-round. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please email Ashley@newhousekc.org.
