Shawnee Caruthers

Rashawn “Shawnee” Caruthers is a Kansas City–based leader working at the intersection of education, community impact, and cross-sector collaboration. She currently serves as Partner of Advocacy at Getting Smart, where she helps advance national and regional initiatives that connect learners to meaningful pathways in education, career, and civic life. With a background in journalism and education, Shawnee brings a storyteller’s lens to systems change. Her work focuses on helping leaders, communities, and organizations align around a shared vision for learner-centered experiences that prepare young people for thriving futures. She has played a key role in advancing Real World Learning initiatives across the Kansas City region, supporting school systems, community partners, and industry leaders in building opportunities such as client-connected projects, internships, entrepreneurial experiences, and career exploration for students. Shawnee is widely recognized for her ability to convene and moderate thoughtful conversations that move ideas into action. She has designed and facilitated national conferences, regional fellowships, and leadership gatherings that bring together educators, funders, business leaders, and policymakers to strengthen local ecosystems for young people. Through this work, she helps translate complex challenges into collaborative strategies that prioritize opportunity, belonging, and long-term community impact. Deeply rooted in Kansas City, Shawnee is passionate about the role communities play in shaping opportunity for the next generation. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that when schools, employers, and civic organizations work together, young people gain the experiences, relationships, and confidence they need to navigate an evolving world. Across her work, Shawnee is driven by a commitment to people-centered leadership and the power of storytelling to illuminate possibility, strengthen connection, and inspire change.