Meet The Lawrence Times community advisory board

On board since Day 1
Twitter: @AKAarsalan

CEO/Founder of Endpoints News. I’m Kansas-born and proud to now live in Lawrence with my wife and two kids. We spend a lot of time at 715, J Wilsons, and the Toy Store on Mass. Street, especially now that Shehla and I are both vaccinated. 

After spending 20 years in the Washington, D.C. area, I returned to Kansas because it was the best place to support my company. But most of all, it’s a great place to live. Lawrence is a special community that was long served by top-class local journalism. Our neighbors here are used to being informed about their community, and holding power to account. That’s a tradition that must be upheld. 

On board since Day 1
@ravenbookstore on Twitter and Instagram

I own and run the Raven Book Store and I write books

Independent community news is the best way to make sure necessary stories are heard. Democracies starve without a free and independent press, and corporate monopolies threaten just that. 

On board since Day 1

Community Organizer/Advocate

Equitable community news is essential to capturing an entire community.

On board since April 2021
 
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

Full bio coming soon — in the meantime, Ask Codi!

On board since Day 1
Lawrence Mutual Aid Network; Sanctuary Alliance Lawrence KS 

I spend most of my days working, teaching yoga, dreaming about the mountains, playing with my doggie (Rainbow), and working toward a liberated irresistible future for all! I”m also heavily involved in community organizing. I am a part of Sanctuary Alliance, Lawrence Mutual Aid Network, Food Not Bombs, Housing First LFK and probably more things I cannot think of right now, lol! 

Community news should be accessible and educational to all community members. I want to see more marginalized identities represented with story, opinion, and view on our current news both locally and nationally! Having a news source that helps people access resources and connects them to a deeper relationship with our LFK community! 

On board since Day 1
Facebook, Instagram

I am a photographer and spend most of my day either taking photos or editing photos. Capturing and freezing the moments of time is what I find exciting and enjoyable. 

I have nothing but respect for Lawrence and all the people who live here. I believe Lawrence lacks the visual of happiness. I have decided to take on the role to capture Lawrence and what this town has to give. I have no pen or paper but will tell the story through the lens of a camera. 

On board since Day 1
@lawrencemodern on Instagram and Twitter

Realtor with Stephens Real Estate and Founder of Lawrence Modern. I dig mid-century architecture and design, old houses and core neighborhoods in Lawrence. Fancy myself as a community builder, historic preservationist and redbud enthusiast.

Proud to be a board member on The Lawrence Times who is willing to take risks and report on local, regional and state issues that impact our lives in meaningful and pleasant ways.

On board since April 2021
rhondalevaldo@gmail.com, notinourhonor.com

I am Acoma Pueblo and faculty in Media Communications at Haskell Indian Nations University. 

I host Native Spirit radio on KKFI in Kansas City every Sunday. I also freelance for National Native News (radio) that airs on public radio across the country, and I am a past president of the Native American Journalists Association.   

On board since Day 1
@nogender_onlygander

I’m a Readers’ Services librarian at the Lawrence Public Library! Recently, I’ve also begun giving webinars on how libraries/librarians can actively show support of trans communities. 

I’m just so excited to be involved in a community-led news source that keeps every member of the community at its heart, while providing a safe space for those who are marginalized to tell their own stories. 

On board since Day 1

People, policy, and plants

The way you frame a story and select which news gets covered, matters. Lots of us have wished for better local news, watching the newspaper decline in quality and content. It’s a lot of work in a town as lively as Lawrence. I’m thrilled that Mackenzie and the team brought The Lawrence Times to life. I’m here to support <3 

On board since Day 1
@pottsmark

I’m an entrepreneur and consultant who works with media companies and startups around the nation and in the Kansas City area.

As a former journalist at The Washington Post and elsewhere, and a former editor of the Lawrence Journal-World, I’m acutely aware of the need for high-quality local news coverage. There are many places to find out what’s going on around the world, but almost no place to find out what’s really going on in Lawrence, especially in important areas such as the arts and social justice. The Lawrence Times is filling an important gap in local news coverage, and I’m thrilled to be able to support Mackenzie, Conner & Co. in making it happen.

On board since Day 1

CEO, Lawrence Arts Center 

As an artist and working at the Lawrence Arts Center I am always looking for interesting, creative and informed coverage of arts and culture. Lawrence is so arts and culture rich, but there isn’t anyone out there telling the incredible stories happening here. Wearing my parent and involved-community-member hat, I look to local news for information that is important for me to know — information that makes me, my family, my neighbors, my community closer, healthier, safer, looking out for each other. There is enough gossip, finger-pointing, scandal mongering on social media; journalism should hold itself to a higher standard.