Board Spotlight: JanieLynn Lankford
By: Emily Konouchi | 2021 Board of Directors
In early 2021 we welcomed JanieLynn Lankford to the Board of Directors of Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. JanieLynn is the Director of Development for The New Beginnings Center (TNBC), a free and affordable nonprofit personal training and nutrition education center for women.
As a lifelong Nashville resident, JanieLynn grew up building forts in the woods behind her house with her older brothers, cooking homemade biscuits with her mom, and caring for her pet goat, chickens, horses, cats, and dogs.
I caught up with JanieLynn to learn a little more about her.
Q: How did you become acquainted with TNJFON?
A: It was quite serendipitous! After I graduated from my Master's program in Social Work and Organizational Leadership, my longtime best friend, Sarah Kays, purchased a photo session with [TNJFON Board Member] Karla MacIntyre as a graduation gift. During our photo session, Karla and I reconnected from our time at Lipscomb University, our shared passion for our community, and how to share the power and privilege we hold.
After our chat, Karla proposed joining TNJFON as a development professional, and I was all in!
Q: Why do you support TNJFON?
A: I support JFON because I truly feel that all people, no matter their country of origin, beliefs, or immigration status, are my neighbors and should be cared for with dignity and respect.
I recognize my ancestors, who came to the U.S. generations ago, are immigrants as well, and I feel that we all deserve the same rights and support as they did. They did not go through any immigration process, learn the native language, or follow any legal procedure in laying claim to this land, and I can't imagine showing my fellow neighbors, friends, and human beings any less acceptance, inclusion, and respect.
Additionally, I recognize the power I hold as a white woman raised in a dual-income, financially stable home with parents that provided me financial and social support. I am walking across bridges I didn't build, and who am I to not share this space and power with others?
Q: What’s your favorite activity or hobby?
A: Recently, interior design has been inspiring to me. I've been fascinated with the art of creating an experience in a space and fostering an environment however I choose. Finding objects that inspire me, such as a vintage lamp, funky rug, or lumpy rock, and shaping a room around them has been healing as a new creative outlet.
Q: What’s your superpower?
A: Adapting to my surroundings -- being able to sense an environment when I enter it and mirror its energy has been wildly beneficial professionally and personally, and it's reassuring to know that I can enter a new space and fluidly slip into other people's lives.
More about JanieLynn:
JanieLynn, or "JL", as her partner and friends call her, has a Master's Degree in Social Work and Organizational Leadership from the University of Tennessee College of Social Work as well as a B.A. in Psychology from Lipscomb University.
With field experience in development, best-practice research, and strengths-based communication practices, JanieLynn brings a deep love for the Nashville community as well as a dedication to women's health and advocacy. After working at the Federal Public Defender's Office in Nashville as a social worker in federal prisons, JanieLynn went on to work in the Communications Department of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (ACLU-TN) before joining the TNBC team in October of 2020.
JanieLynn loves meeting new people, establishing sustainable partnerships, and advancing holistic systems in her community, work, and home life. You can find her cooking new recipes, backpacking with her partner, vintage shopping, or cuddling with her rescue pup, Jolene. With deep community ties across the state, JanieLynn is excited to bring her love of individuals and communities to the JFON team!