SHAUNA AMICK
Before originally joining Joni and Friends New England as a member of the Board of Directors in 2011, Shauna had spent many years serving as a Spokesperson for CareNet Crisis Pregnancy Centers, sharing a firm belief in the value of all life. When Shauna became pregnant with her third child and it was revealed that the baby would be born with Down syndrome, a near fatal heart defect, and a slew of other genetic abnormalities, she was presented with an opportunity to prove that what she had been saying she believed was true.
After her daughter’s birth, Shauna and her family were in need of support and the fellowship that can only come from others in the disability community, and they were welcomed into Joni and Friends first as family members needing help and hope. When she saw how Joni and Friends shared her passion for speaking up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, she was happy to join the ministry in a professional capacity, as well.
While serving as a board member for Joni and Friends New England, ministry leadership recognized Shauna’s many gifts and strengths: a passion for upholding the sanctity and dignity of all human life with a specific focus on the inherent value of people with disabilities; communicating biblical truth; transformational leadership; organizational development and expansion; public speaking; writing; and vision. She was subsequently asked to take on the position of Area Director for the New England office.
In July, 2016, Shauna and her family made the move across the country as she assumed an even greater role with the ministry, Senior Manager of Development at the Joni and Friends International Disability Center in Southern California. Shauna’s experience with public speaking, development and public relations made her the perfect fit for Director of Development when that position became available in January.
Shauna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Special Education and Learning Disabilities (M.Ed.), and post graduate work specializing in marginalized populations. She is the author of Learning to Live Happily Ever After, from Life Cycle Books (2009), a contributor to The Beyond Suffering Bible, from Joni and Friends and Tyndale House Publishers (2016), and has written numerous articles that have been published in several national magazines.
Shauna and her husband of nearly 25 years and their three children reside in Southern California