We’re looking forward to introducing you to Whitney Gerstner . Check out our conversation below.
Hi Whitney , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m very proud of helping build two Sexual Assault Response Teams in Russell and Thomas counties. In partnership with Options Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, we have held meetings in these two counties and invited key stakeholders to the table to talk about how we can better serve the communities, survivors, and to help prevent assaults from taking place. With health department personnel, dispatchers, EMS, law enforcement, and therapists, we have a wide range of people who are invested and committed to working together and working to create safer communities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Whitney Gerstner and I’m the Marketing & Engagement Specialist at Jana’s Campaign in Hays, KS. Jana’s Campaign is a nonprofit organization based in Hays that teaches prevention education about sexual and domestic violence and stalking to secondary and higher education students as well as community members. Jana’s Campaign was created in memory of Jana Lynne Mackey, who lost her life due to relationship-based violence in July of 2008.
Jana was a 25-year-old University of Kansas law student who was an advocate for women’s rights and spent years volunteering to aid victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. As a passionate social and women’s activist, Jana fought for equality and social justice at every turn.
Jana’s Campaign hosts 2 summits, our Gulf Coast Campus Safety Summit in Houston, TX, and our Heartland Campus Safety Summit in Lawrence, KS. These summits are designed for folks who work on university or college campuses as Title IX Coordinators, Police, Counselors/Therapists, and Advocates. We bring in speakers from around the country to speak about how to create safer learning environments for students on campus.
From doing programming about healthy and unhealthy relationships in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, to tabling events within the community, to volunteer opportunities, summits, and our annual Empty Place at the Table fundraiser, Jana’s Campaign delivers specialized prevention strategies, curricula, and resources that are designed to prevent violence, build healthy relationships, and create new social norms.
In 2025 I had the opportunity to speak at a conference and a summit about suicide prevention with teens as well as technology-facilitated abuse. I’m very passionate about these topics, especially tech-facilitated abuse since AI is growing rapidly. There is, unfortunately, a very scary and dark side to AI that I have learned and researched over the summer and the way it effects everyone from birth to full-grown adult is very eye-opening.
Another few projects and grants I’m grateful to be a part of is inviting bars from Ellis, Thomas, and Russell counties to complete a free training given by Options for the Safebar Alliance. It’s a free, one hour training to help bar owners and staff when situations become tense, teaching them about being an active bystander and deescalating situations, and prevention education. This initiative is exciting because we have the opportunity to prevent domestic and sexual violence from happening as well as recreate a culture fostering safety for all.
Lastly, our Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design initiative where we put together a committee with people from High Plains Mental Health, Options, The Chamber, Criminology Professors from Fort Hays State University, and law enforcement. This group of people we have put together are excited to start a project location where we can make it safer for the community in Hays to enjoy.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Giving birth to my daughter shaped how I view the world because it not only showed me how strong women really are, but how precious life is. As a mother, it’s my duty to protect my daughter from harm and with the work I research and learn about daily, it puts into perspective of how dangerous the world can be. It also teaches me to be grateful for my family and friends because every one, not just those who I know, are battling something that they may not show or talk about.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
My husband has been a great listener along with my friends and family. Even though my daughter is young, she’s also a great listener. I’m very thankful for my circle of friends and family because they have given me so much support throughout the years.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I’m not sure if it’s necessarily cultural, but I very much value inclusivity and safety for all. Being an ally of the LGBTQIA+ Community as well as someone who supports and believes survivors, has truly made me see that we’re all humans doing our best every day. Being kind, welcoming, and supportive and offering an ear or judgements free space is something I look for in people and the community so I want to reciprocate that too.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What will you regret not doing?
I’ll regret not doing my best in trying to make my community safer and more inclusive for everyone, but especially for my daughter. Everyone deserves to live in a community where they are able to freely express themselves the way they want to, in a safe environment to live their best life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.janascampaign.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janascampaign?igsh=NWtkY2dtZWw2cTZv
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jana%27s-campaign-inc-_ellis-county-followers-join-us-activity-7422292399323836416-awDo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAAAkMQ-0BL294R1UgbM8wemVI3bcAR9jeNPE
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CXsaVV9wV/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@janascampaignorg?si=Jtd4HgLV5LO8z_5y
Image Credits
Jana’s Campaign
