About
Our mission is to empower individuals and families develop skills to achieve and maintain independence through supportive services.
Our Story
Our work began in 1920 when Carrie Southwick Plumb donated her Emporia home in service to single women. Over the previous 100 years, thousands of women found safe refuge to build lives of stable, independent achievement.
Today, Southwick House is transitioning to a new community home and looking to the next 100 years. Working closely with our agency partners, community volunteers, donors, and champions, our new space will be a broad-based shelter serving the homeless community with intensive case management supports. Assisting the most vulnerable among us in building solid foundations on which to thrive.
Meet the Team
Executive Director
Cara Codney
After moving to Kansas as a child, Cara spent most of her young life in Burlington, KS. She moved to Emporia to study at Emporia State University where she completed a B.A. in English and M.A. in TESOL, as well as later completing an M.A. in English. After graduating she remained in Emporia and worked at ESU for many years working in the Intensive English Program, where she eventually became director. She also served in various roles advising and teaching TESOL and Composition courses.
After 15 years at ESU, Cara transitioned into nonprofit work at SOS and CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for United Way of the Flint Hills and is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for SOS CASA of the Flint Hills. Cara is proud to be a part of leading Southwick House successfully into the next 100 years!
Bookkeeper
Carol Steinel
Carol has a long history working in, and serving as a consultant to, non-profits. She served as director of one of the first congregate housing programs in the U.S. during the 1980s in Portland, Oregon, and has extensive experience in non- and for-profit bookkeeping. A native Emporian, she returned home in 2012 to care for her parents, and since then, has served as a free-lance bookkeeper, tax-preparer, and payroll clerk for many local entities including the Lyon County Historical Society, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Street Tax Service, Strive Wellness Group, and Integrity Medical, among others.
Board of Directors
Bethany Frank
Vice Chair
Bobbie Sparks
Treasurer
Nancy Gilpin
Campaign Chair
Aaron Larson
Secretary
Nicole Freeland
Board Member
Wendi Soendker
Board Member
Dennis Applegarth
Board Member
Deone Wilson
Board Member
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