Krysten Vaughn joined the ACLU of Missouri as the Community Engagement Associate in July 2022. She is responsible for assisting in the oversight of the Intake Complaint Unit, accumulating research for departmental projects, and developing and implementing strategies to achieve the affiliate’s goals in its work to break the school-to-prison pipeline.
Krysten graduated from Harris Stowe State University in May of 2022, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a pre-law concentration. In addition to her studies, she worked for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region & Southwest Missouri as an Organizing Fellow. In this fellowship, she developed the first Missouri HBCU chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action, assisted in developing the Black Organizing Program, facilitated the North County Action Council, and more. Outside of her work with Planned Parenthood, her university involvement included serving as the Vice President of the National Council of Negro Women, being a member of the National Society of Leadership & Success, the Honors College, the Black Women’s Initiative, and serving as an Orientation Leader.
Along with organizing, Krysten worked in education. In 2020 and 2021, she assisted in the development of the curriculum and advocated for the Black Literature course in the Francis Howell School District in Saint Charles, MO. The course is the first of its kind and was implemented as part of the district’s course catalog in July of 2021.
Krysten is honored and excited to continue working to facilitate positive change in in people's lives through her work at the ACLU of Missouri.
In her free time, Krysten enjoys going to concerts, music festivals, supporting the arts, reading the work of academics such as Audre Lorde and James Baldwin, and spending time with friends and family.