About Boots on the Ground
Dateline November 2024
Nancy Mays and Martha Lawrence are watching the election results surrounded by others who had poured their hearts and souls into a State Senate campaign. They stared in disbelief at the results not only locally, but also nationally. There was a feeling of hopelessness.
Fast forward to January 2025
After the shock wore off Nancy and Martha decided they weren’t going to just give up. Social media, friend circles, colleagues were all wringing their hands and wondering what to do next. Nancy came up with the brilliant idea of organizing a volunteer fair to help non-profits most immediately in crisis due to the drastic actions of the new administration.
Boots on the Ground Volunteer Fair was born
In just five weeks Nancy and Martha pulled together 44 non-profits and more than 700 willing volunteers. Everyone was ready to help. There was such a sense of hope and community, that Boots on the Ground developed a plan to move forward.
Marching Forward
Since January, BOTG has been focused on helping the community through action. Initiatives include Wednesday Workshops, community building events, non-profit support, protests, rallies, Kansas coalition building. All the efforts are communicated through our weekly Substack newsletter and social media.
Nancy Mays
Nancy Mays is the founder and principal of Mays Communications, a strategic communications firm based in Kansas City. She is also co-founder of Boots on the Ground Midwest. With over three decades of experience, Nancy has held senior roles in corporate communications, public affairs, and journalism. She was campaign manager for a Kansas State Senate campaign and has volunteered in State and local politics. Her career includes serving as Communications Director at Ascend Learning, Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Johnson County, Kansas, and Executive Director of Corporate Communications at DineEquity (Applebee’s). She has also taught at the University of Kansas and has been recognized for her leadership and results-driven approach.
Martha Lawrence
Martha Lawrence is a marketing and communications professional based in the Kansas City area, with over 30 years experience in strategic marketing, event planning, and public outreach. She is co-founder of Boots on the Ground Midwest. Recently she worked as Director of Field Operations on a State Senate Campaign. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles across various sectors, including education, technology, and public service. She currently works as a marketing consultant, helping organizations enhance their visibility and engagement.
SOLE Board
Building Boots on the Ground has taken a team effort! We couldn’t do it without our SOLE Board. This tireless group of volunteers has been the support and foundation for our success.
Karen Arokiasamy
Jenna Brown
Mary Coffman
Kiernan Elizabeth
Stephanie Heckart
Diane Kehres
Meredith Lai
Janet Milkovich