Staff Spotlight: Lila
Team Newhouse
Bringing Joy, Healing, and Play: Meet Lila, Newhouse’s First Recreational Therapist!
At Newhouse, healing takes many forms—safety, therapy, advocacy, and even play, and Lila embodies this holistic approach as our first-ever Recreational Therapist. Since joining the team in May 2024, she has dedicated herself to bringing joy, movement, creativity, and healing to the survivors we serve.
A Pioneer in Therapeutic Recreation at Newhouse
Lila stepped into Newhouse as a Certified Recreational Therapist (CTRS), a role that uses recreation to help individuals improve their physical, emotional, and social well-being. In her own words, she helps survivors “live fuller, more independent lives through therapeutic recreation.”
She primarily works with our children’s programs, leading both individual and group sessions to support kids emotionally, physically, and creatively. She also coordinates our monthly family events, creating safe spaces where families can experience moments of fun and connection. And during the summer? She helps run our 10-week summer camp; a program designed to let kids be kids again.
“I am proud that I have become Newhouse’s first Recreational Therapist and have begun to create a program that gives back to the survivors,” Lila said.
Why She’s Passionate About Supporting Survivors
Lila’s work is driven by a deep passion for domestic violence (DV) awareness and survivor support. “I work to support survivors because they are so deserving of encouragement, compassion, and they need fun back in their lives,” she said.
She is committed to spreading awareness about the realities of DV, especially the fact that it isn’t just physical. “It’s a pattern of behavior used to gain or maintain power and control over another person,” she emphasizes. Until domestic violence is truly addressed, and everyone lives a life free of abuse, she will continue advocating for change.
Special Moments and Lasting Impact
One of Lila’s favorite memories at Newhouse is pool days with the kids during summer camp.
“It was so amazing to see their joy and excitement. I loved that they were able to be kids and have fun with each other. We would play sharks and minnows, and some kids even learned how to swim, thanks to a volunteer who offered his time to teach them.”
These moments of laughter and learning are more than just fun—they are healing. They help survivors rebuild confidence, trust, and a sense of normalcy.
Words of Encouragement
To any survivor, Lila has one message: “Keep moving forward. Don’t give up hope.”
Beyond Newhouse
Outside of work, Lila enjoys walking and hiking with her husband, Colin, exploring Kansas City’s coffee shops and restaurants, and listening to audiobooks (mysteries and autobiographies are her favorites!). Her family lives at the beach in Texas, which is where she and Colin got married. This May, they’ll be celebrating two years of marriage.
Above all, Lila believes in leaving people better than she found them. “Building relationships is super important to me. I want everyone to be seen, known, and heard.”
At Newhouse, she’s doing exactly that—one joyful, healing, and meaningful moment at a time.
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Thank you, Lila, for serving survivors at Newhouse through your gifts and talents.
