Feet Forward names Leanne Wheeler interim executive director

Boulder homeless advocacy organization Feet Forward has named Leanne Wheeler as its new interim executive director.

“On behalf of the Feet Forward Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Leanne D. Wheeler as our Interim Executive Director,” Darren O’connor, chair of Feet Forward’s board of directors, stated in a news release.

“Ms. Wheeler, an Air Force veteran, comes to us with over thirty years of leadership experience in the private and public sectors with specific experience in organization growth and development.

This subject matter expertise makes Ms. Wheeler the right person to serve as the head of the organization as we advance our mission and increase our scope in service to our unhoused community.”

According to the release, Wheeler has lived experience with homelessness and has previously chaired the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative Board of Directors. She also served on the board for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

Additionally, the release stated, Wheeler has held leadership positions with the former Denver Road Home, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Leadership Aurora Board, the Aurora City Council Commission for Youth and other groups.

She ran for Aurora City Council in 2019 but did not win.

Wheeler has lived in Colorado since 1990.

She holds degrees in electronic systems engineering and computer information systems and is currently a student in the University of San Francisco’s master’s program in public leadership.

Wheeler’s appointment comes following a tumultuous year for Feet Forward.

Its founder and original executive director, Jennifer Livovich, resigned in May amid a dispute with board members over the organization’s involvement with a lawsuit challenging Boulder’s camping ban.

Gwen Farnsworth was appointed as interim executive director this summer, but by early October, she was no longer serving in the role, though she remained on Feet Forward’s board of directors.