This episode is brought to you by the NCRTD Blue Bus.

This week on Voices of Taos, reporter Olivia Lewis talks with Kristen Van Norman, the new executive director of Stray Hearts Animal Shelter.

Van Norman brings with her 15 years of nonprofit experience, most recently as Director of Overseas Operations for USA Girl Scouts Overseas. She was appointed by the Stray Hearts board of directors in October, and has spent the past few months preparing for the reopening of the shelter, which occurred on Dec. 1.

Kristen and Olivia talk about the steps needed to prepare the shelter for the reopening, including facility maintenance and restructuring of the organization. They also discuss the realities of keeping an animal shelter open, and how the planned incremental reopening can help keep the facility on track to being fully functional. Van Norman hopes to be able to stabilize the organization — both financially and operationally — in the coming year.

Read more about Kristen and Stray Hearts

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