Job Title: Executive Director
Email Address: kelsey@nightlight.org
Favorite Bible Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so the Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Favorite Adoption Story: My favorite adoption story would have to be about my little boy, Isaiah, whom I adopted while living in South Sudan in 2009. Isaiah who was 13 months old at the time, was living on the street with his 9 year old sister Rose, and they had lost both parents to AIDS only a month after Isaiah was born. Isaiah was HIV positive from birth and as a result of it going untreated for so long, he passed away shortly after I adopted him. When I first met Isaiah he was extremely unhappy, malnourished, and had never experienced joy or laughter. Isaiah, though only 1 year old, showed obvious indicators of neglect, distrust, anger, and an absence of love. I was privileged to spend 4 months with Isaiah and in my short time of loving and caring for him I saw God’s love transform this child from being an angry, distrusting, and hurting little boy to a boy full of love, laughter, and joy. It taught me about the power of love and how important it is for every child to know they are loved, accepted, and worthy. Though this story had a tragic ending, it’s beautiful because Isaiah was able to know and experience love, self-worth, acceptance, and joy before he left this earth. It is now my objective, hope, and aspiration that every child will have a loving home and family and will know they are unconditionally loved because nothing is more transforming and powerful than LOVE.
Education: Masters of Social Work from the University of Louisville
Responsibilities: Kelsey is responsible for the training, supervision and support of Social Services Staff in the Colorado office, including the Domestic Program Coordinator, the Home Study Coordinator, Interns, and Home Study Writers. She also reviews all home studies completed in Colorado, and works with out of state agencies on completing and reviewing home studies for mutual International Adoption clients from their states.
