Leadership Announcement
12.8.2023
Announcement from Amanda Weber, Voices of Hope Founder & Artistic Director
Dear friends of Voices of Hope,
As winter arrives and we continue to lift our voices in song, I am struck by the resilience of Voices of Hope in every season. We have grown and thrived in ways I could never have imagined when I started as a volunteer more than 8 years ago. So much of this is due to the strong leadership that has evolved, guiding the important work of our blossoming organization. I am writing today to share a change in this leadership, as we say farewell to our Executive Director, Brittany Kallman Arneson.
Brittany came to Voices of Hope in 2017 after singing as an outside volunteer at a prison graduation ceremony. She was inspired and on fire to offer her gifts in whatever ways she could. Over the next 5 years, Brittany brought direction, clarity, and passion to our work. She helped us expand to a second correctional facility, guided us through the Covid-19 pandemic, oversaw a return to in-prison programming, and onboarded new staff. She has written numerous grants, connected with donors, and improved our communications. At every step of the way, she has been both incredibly professional and has prioritized the joy and connection that is at the center of the work we do. We are so grateful for Brittany’s tenure and wish her well in her next chapter!
In this season of change, we are very fortunate to welcome one of our current volunteers, Jessi McKinnon, as Interim Executive Director. Jessi has been volunteering with the Shakopee choir since March and brings skills of administration, management, fundraising, and development to our team. She currently works in the nonprofit sector and will be serving Voices of Hope in a part-time capacity. Welcome, Jessi!
Finally, I’d like to offer continued gratitude to you all - our supporters in so many ways! Your consistency of support has helped us navigate transitions in the past and will do so again. As always, you can reach us at wearevoicesofhope@gmail.com. We are looking forward to the next chapter of song and all that awaits us.
Sincerely,
Amanda Weber
Voices of Hope Founder & Artistic Director
A note from Brittany Kallman Arneson, Outgoing Executive Director
I joined Voices of Hope in 2017 as a volunteer grant writer. Amanda and I knew each other from our shared time at Luther College, and I had followed her work at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Shakopee via social media since she started leading a choir there in 2015. Not long after we wrote (and received!) our first grant, the opportunity to take on a larger administrative role with Voices of Hope arose, and with much excitement and some trepidation I stepped into a new Executive Director role.
What followed was an experience that has truly changed my life. I have learned so much–about nonprofit administration, about flexibility and perseverance in the face of unexpected obstacles, about balancing work and family, about the absolute joy of working with true and trusted friends. Most significantly, I have learned about the power of shared music-making to change lives, to forge unlikely friendships, and to open hearts. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to do this work over these past years.
The time has come for me to step away, to make time for other priorities in my life and also to create an opportunity for someone with a new perspective and new talents and skills to help grow the organization. I have every confidence in Jessi as a leader, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her–she is an absolute delight. Finally, I am so grateful to you, Voices of Hope’s loyal supporters, for your role in making this work possible and for your support over the years. I can’t wait to see what is to come!
A note from Jessi McKinnon, Interim Executive Director
I am delighted to join Voices of Hope in the role of Interim Executive Director. This organization is managed by a team of incredible women who are truly doing the work to advocate for, support, and uplift incarcerated community members, and I am thrilled to be a part of this team. I look forward to sharing more about myself in the coming weeks and getting to know the Voices of Hope community!
Voices of Hope would not be what it is without the continual support from our passionate volunteer team, our donors, and our community supporters. Thank you for supporting this work and creating space for these voices to be heard.
This time of transition for Voices of Hope is also an opportunity for you to join our efforts in making music with justice-involved populations. Consider signing up for our mailing list, making a donation, or reaching out to learn more about our work while we enter this period of transition and growth. There are some big, exciting things on the horizon for Voices of Hope, and we’d love for you to be a part of it!