Life and Work with April-Dawn Knudsen

Today we’d like to introduce you to April-Dawn Knudsen.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For as long as I can remember, service to others and community involvement have been values that guide my life. I moved to Colorado Springs from Texas in 2005. Met the love of my life, and moved to Weston, Colorado. While teaching Special Education, being a class sponsor, driving a school bus, and providing before and after school opportunities for teens, I fell in love with rural Colorado. After several years in Weston, my family moved to Elizabeth, Colorado. There I was Executive Director for a struggling youth mentoring program and volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) where I worked with teens who were caught up in the courts due to dependency and/or neglect. My time in Elizabeth uncovered my passion for building local resources, community organizing, and strategic planning/processes. Before leaving Elizabeth, I led HeadsUp Colorado Youth Mentoring through a merger and acquisition process, and then accepted a new position as CEO for Boys & Girls Clubs of the High Rockies.

When I stepped into this new role, the organization was faced with significant deficit and struggle. I hold an MS in Community Development and a significant piece of this study included community and organizational assessments. Utilizing Appreciative Inquiry and Community Capitol Frameworks, I got to work bringing together local stakeholders and identifying strengths, gaps and opportunities for the organization. From this assessment, we create an action plan and began to drive the organization in a new direction. Within three years, the organization was running a five-digit surplus and had increased youth participation by 40%. I was proud of the work being achieved for Boys & Girls Clubs but wanted to effect change in new ways. So in 2018, I ran as an Unaffiliated Candidate for Park County Commissioner.

My team and I ran a competitive campaign and earned the highest percentage of votes out of any Unaffiliated Candidate running against two major parties in the state of Colorado. When election day passed and Park County swore in another Republican Commissioner, I choose to utilize the issues I learned about on the campaign trail and seek out new opportunities to impact affordable housing and mental health wellness. I emailed my network asking for leads and was introduced to the work of Summit Habitat for Humanity. Summit Habitat was lacking direction and struggling to serve their mission. In February 2019, I came on as Executive Director. Since that time, we have identified struggles and opportunities around housing, charted a strategic plan, elevated the local brand of Habitat, and increased giving tenfold. Starting in 2020, Summit Habitat will be building a min of one home each year expanding affordable homeownership opportunities in our rural region.

In addition to my work with Habitat, I launched Knudsen Consulting in 2018. Knudsen Consulting works with municipalities, nonprofits and mission-minded for-profit organizations to identify struggles and elevate outcomes; empowering others to ‘do good work well’. Knudsen Consulting has worked with clients in Denver, rural Jefferson County, Routt County, Garfield County, Elbert/Lincoln Counties, the San Luis Valley, and communities across Park County. The most exciting project I am currently working on aims to bring an innovative Community Based Mental Health Center to Park County. Knudsen Consulting was brought into this grassroots project in December 2018. We are currently working with Park County therapists, service providers, schools, law enforcement, and emergency services to expand the capacity for mental health services across our communities.

I have lived, worked, and served across rural Colorado since 2008, and I am proud to call Park County home.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Struggle is the journey. Struggle is where you learn; it’s where you grow; it’s where you find out what you’re made of.

During the early days of struggle back when I was still learning how to utilize my strengths at HeadsUp Colorado, I remember the dark days of wrapping my identity up in the success or failures of my work. The most important lesson I can pass along is: You are not defined by the health or success of the projects you lead.

Always remember that you are whole regardless of whatever phase you find yourself in. You will not feel whole during these seasons of struggle, but hold fast the TRUTH that you are enough. So, show up, and keep showing up.

When I don’t know how to take my next step, I try to remember that all things work together for good when you have an open heart and an open mind. Practice keeping an open heart and open mind, and a path will be made clear. But the path can change… so remain nimble.

Please tell us about Summit Habitat for Humanity & Knudsen Consulting.
After I didn’t earn the election, I was looking for new places to put my energy. The major issues identified by my constituents were housing and mental health. I joined the work of Summit Habitat and am excited to lead their efforts to make homeownership more accessible to our local workforce and those wanting to lay down roots in our communities. Everyone deserves a decent place to live. I deeply believe that stable shelter is the cornerstone for all other success. To learn more about the good work of Summit Habitat: http://summithabitat.org/
Through Knudsen Consulting I have the opportunity to help rural communities, nonprofits, and mission oriented for profits do good work well. My biggest consulting project at the moment is my work as a community organizer in Park County, where we’re working to bring together stakeholders, first responders, and therapists to find and build solutions that expand the county’s mental health and wellness services. Other 2020 clients include the Community Resource Center where I proudly contract to provide trainings and workshops across Colorado. To learn more about upcoming trainings and events: https://crcamerica.org/programs/education/upcoming-events/. Finally, I’m honored to be the keynote speaker at Hope for Health Wellness September Retreat where we’ll be exploring Leadership Redefined. To learn more about Hope for Health Wellness Retreats: https://www.hopeforhealth.me/

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
I feel that women are well-positioned to step into leadership positions, but more women need to raise their hands for new opportunities. Fear and feelings of inadequacy will always nip at your heels; lead anyway.
Ask for new opportunities to lead, and ask for opportunities to learn from others who lead.

Where do you want to go?
What relationships do you have or need to create that pathway?
1) Reach Out
2) Share your strengths, vision and what types of opportunities you’re looking for.
3) Be vulnerable — learning is a vulnerable process; no way around it.

Seek out opportunities to spend time with badass women doing brilliant work.
And always remember that if you’re not scared; you’re probably not stretching yourself.
Spending time with other women who are stretching themselves will empower you to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.knudsenconsulting.co
• Phone: 719-360-4429
• Email: ad.knudsenconsulting@gmail.com

Image Credit:
All photos are used with full permissions by owner April-Dawn Knudsen

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