Lauren currently serves as the Executive Director of The Opportunity Project in Tulsa, OK. The Opportunity Project supports youth-serving organizations to deliver high-quality programs, connects partners to youth and communities, and advocates for equitable OST experiences in Tulsa. At The Opportunity Project, we believe that young people succeed and our communities thrive when we invest in afterschool and summer school programming.

Prior to her work with The Opportunity Project, Lauren served as the Managing Director of 2nd Story, one of Chicago's oldest and most respected storytelling collectives. Over nearly 9 years with the organization, Lauren Lauren grew the organization’s budget from $90K to $630K, expanded the staff and board, piloted new programming, and successfully navigated 2nd Story’s first audit.

Under Lauren's leadership, 2nd Story moved from its loft-office space in North Center to a storefront at the corner of Lawrence Ave. and Sacramento Ave. in Albany Park. In addition to overseeing fundraising and finance administration for the organization, Lauren is responsible for development, community engagement, and branding and marketing. Lauren recently oversaw the transition from freelance contractors to salaried employees and the adding of health insurance and retirement benefits.

One of Lauren’s proudest moment with 2nd Story was serving on the steering committee for a community-wide conversation on trauma-informed care. The event, We’re All In This Together, brought together leaders and experts who represented the following organizations: Cook County Health and Hospitals, The Kedzie Center, Lawrence Hall, North Park University, and the North River Commission. Through months of work and planning, the event used evidence-based research and personal narratives to create a dialogue with 175 neighbors to explore community empathy and resiliency.

A Commitment to working with nonprofits

Lauren worked for six seasons at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as the Special Projects Coordinator at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, she worked closely with Steppenwolf's Managing Director David Schmitz and senior-level leadership. In this capacity, Lauren played an essential role on the opening task force team for Steppenwolf's  Front Bar and was responsible for the coordination and execution of the permit and licensing processes.

She first began working at Steppenwolf in 2010 as the Steppenwolf for Young Adults Apprentice. Lauren worked in the education department through July 2015, finishing as the Education and Community Programs Coordinator. Her work included the mentorship of the Young Adult Council, Steppenwolf's after-school program, the creation and facilitation of Behind the Scene, a community engagement program, and a re-envisioning and branding of the department's annual report. 

The Arts & Culture Transition Committee

In 2019, Lauren sat on the Arts & Culture Transition Committee for then Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot. Each member of the committee was expected to submit a two-page memo that responded to and reflected on the Mayor’s following objectives for Chicago’s arts and cultural institutions:

1. Ensure all Chicagoans can participate in and enjoy the arts, regardless of zip code or economic status, and

2. Leverage cultural assets to foster economic growth and inclusion

Lauren submitted a memo that advocated for the abolishment of the unpaid internship. That memo can be read here.