Katy Erker-Lynch

Executive Director | Pronouns: she/her & they/them
Email: katy@promoonline.org

Katy Erker-Lynch is a community-focused advocate and relationship builder. She has experience in community organizing, nonprofit management, social impact tech startup, and public-private partnerships. Katy obtained her Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School, has a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University, and a BS in Sociology from Santa Clara University.  Like so many young, queer Missourians, Katy left the state at 18 and headed west for school, in search of a vibrant queer community. In El Salvador and Boston, Katy’s work allowed her to accompany trans women, commercial sex workers, and unaccompanied homeless youth and adults. The folks Katy supported taught her about their lived experiences, and together they centered their voices through policy and advocacy actions. Those experiences continue to drive Katy to seek social and racial justice and to interrogate the root causes of inequity, while embracing a strengths-based approach.

Robert Fischer

Director of Communications | Pronouns: he/him
Email: robert@promoonline.org

Lacie Jett

Director of Development | Pronouns: she/her
Email: lacie@promoonline.org

Shira Berkowitz

Sr. Director of Public Policy & Advocacy | Pronouns: they/them
Email: shira@promoonline.org

Shira Berkowitz joined the PROMO team in October 2018. They bring a unique collection of experience working in political advocacy and policy strategy, human-centered design, communication strategy, and the arts to the team. They hold a Master of Fine Arts from Washington University of St. Louis, and is dedicated to building spaces for people to grow as community while addressing civic and social challenges in our built environment. They are a founding board member of MaTovu, a Jewish neighborhood center in the City, serves on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, are a founding member of MARSH — a queer bio-culture laboratory and mutual aid hub, and founded Camp Indigo Point  a camp for LGBTQ+ youth in the Midwest.

Anne Kraus

Equality Manager (St. Louis, Columbia, Cape Girardeau) | Pronouns: she/her
Email: anne@promoonline.org

Anne Kraus serves as an Equality Manager bringing 9 years of experience as a school counselor, and a dynamic skill set built from working in multiple educational institutions.  Anne’s work is enhanced by her deep education-sector experience, strength from accompanying LGBTQ+ youth and high schoolers, and compassion and desire to support children and their families. As a queer individual born and raised in Missouri, Anne understands the uniqueness and complexities that make Missouri the state that it is. She recognizes her privileges and is eager to give her time and compassion to raise up and give power to all LGBTQ+ Missourians to ensure they are thriving and valued.

Dani Lacio

Equality Organizer (Springfield) | Pronouns: they/them/one
Email: dani@promoonline.org

Dani is an involved advocate with a focus on education and has been apart of the Springfield, MO area for the last 20 years. They graduated from Ozarks Technical Community College, Missouri State University, and has a Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership with a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership from Drury University. They wear many hats serving on Springfield Public Schools Community Collaborative, City of Springfield Sexual Assault Taskforce, Chief Citizen Advisory Group, graduate of Leadership Springfield and serves as an election judge. Dani is a member of Springfield NAACP, PFLAG of Springfield, Planned Parenthood, and Missouri Jobs with Justice. Dani lives by two mottos, “To be for others what they wish they would have had in their journey” and “We have to become comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. The more uncomfortable the conversation, the more important it is to have it.” Outside of time standing up and fighting for others, Dani enjoys spending time with their wife and children and exploring the great outdoors.