Meet Mason – New LUM Homeless Services Director
Mason McConnell Curry – LUM Homeless Services Director
Mason McConnell Curry (they/them) is the new director for LUM Homeless Services. They are responsible for the LUM Emergency Shelter and the Winter Warming Station.
Mason was born in Athens, Georgia, and grew up in Atchison, Kansas, with their mother, father, and younger brother and sister. They earned a bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Sociology from Saint Louis University (St. Louis, MO).
Reflecting on their new role at LUM, Mason stated that,
“I am excited to join a team of passionate people caring for their community. I am most excited to learn from and grow with the individuals I’ve met so far and those I will meet soon! I look forward to joining the LUM team in pursuing the mission of restoring the hope, dignity and self respect of our unhoused friends and neighbors.”
Mason has experience in homeless services working as the program manager at City Hope, overseeing the operations, services and staff of five shelter sites in the city of St. Louis, MO; and as the cofounder of the SLU Winter Emergency Shelter, providing a safe & warm space for the unsheltered. They have volunteered as the director of communications with the St. Benedict Joseph Labre Homeless Ministry, event marshall for the March of our Lives – St. Louis, and communications lead with Ceasefire – St. Louis. Mason’s native language is English but they are fluent in Spanish. At LUM, they have volunteered at the LUM Community Thanksgiving Feast.
Mason’s personal mission is to create a more compassionate world for those experiencing homelessness. They shared,
“The world should be kinder, and there should be systems of care in place for people experiencing any kind of difficulty. My part in that is to create and maintain systems of care for people experiencing homelessness.”
Mason is inspired by the work of Shane Claiborne and the book, Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi. In their free time, Mason enjoys reading, crocheting, and watching the same movies over and over.
LUM is fortunate to have Mason McConnell Curry join the LUM staff. Please join us in welcoming them to the LUM leadership team.