Lena Pope
Shnease Webb began her career with the Lena Pope Home in the mid-1970s as a receptionist.
Fast-forward 50 years and she is now this almost 95-year-old nonprofit’s chief operating officer.
Throughout her career at Lena Pope, Webb has been involved in every facet of the institution, learning through each role. Recently, she was honored for her 50 years of hard work and dedication at an annual staff tenure celebration to honor the dedication of the agency’s staff.
“I’ve always been led to serve throughout my life, and what better joy than to be able to serve children and families.” Webb says.
In 2008, Webb earned an MBA from TCU. She also has a bachelor’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington.
In addition to her tenure at Lena Pope, Webb has also been involved with many organizations, including Leadership Fort Worth, Child Welfare League of America, Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services, and served on the Community Relations Board at Carswell Federal Hospital. Webb also received the YWCA Women in Leadership Award and the Garcia-Lancarte Award, which is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond in service to Lena Pope.
The Lena Pope home began in 1930 out of her concern for 12 homeless children living in the basement of Broadway Baptist Church. Lena Pope proposed that her Sunday school class do something about the plight of children living in the Great Depression.
Her suggestion: Open a small home to care for neighborhood children. The class pitched in $150. She began the home in a small building. Twenty-five children showed up on the first day. Untold thousands have benefited from its services over the succeeding nine decades years.
Lena Pope was Fort Worth’s Most Outstanding Citizen in 1946. “She was,” one remarked, “in every respect a remarkable woman.”
Over its 93-year history, Lena Pope has been the go-to place for children, families, and caregivers, in need of counseling, education, and behavioral interventions. Lena Pope provides evidence-based, research- tested programs focusing on prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health of children and families.
“There is no one like Shnease and we are so fortunate she has spent her career at Lena Pope,” says Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope. “She is a humble leader who has helped guide Lena Pope through many changes and has been integral to growing new leaders in our organization and our community. It is difficult to adequately quantify the impact Shnease has had on Lena Pope and the Fort Worth community over the past 50 years, but we can be certain she has improved countless lives for the better.”
