What is Sandwiched KC?

Founder & Board President

Rachel Hiles is a 30-something aspiring local celebrity do-gooder in Kansas City. She is a proud alum of UMKC, where she obtained her B. A. in Spanish Literature and Language and later an MPA with an emphasis in nonprofit management. She worked in the disabilities field in a variety of roles for over 13 years. She launched her business, nth degree media & designs, in 2018 to gain flexibility in her role as caregiver to her grandma. In addition to caring for her grandma, she cared for an older loved one with developmental disabilities until he passed away. Rachel also founded Sandwiched KC, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting family caregivers in 2018. She completed her caregiving mission in 2022 and now is dedicated to improving the lives of those who are caring for family members.

Vice President

Karen is a mother of four children, two daughters and two sons. Her oldest daughter has cerebral palsy and a neurodevelopmental disorder, and her youngest daughter has ADHD and polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis. 

Karen was diagnosed later in life with several health conditions which impact the way she learns and functions on a daily basis. Because of this, she has been an advocate in the disability community for the last 30 years. Karen is a certified Community Health Worker. She is currently a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities graduate. She is also a long-time volunteer at a local senior center. She is an active volunteer at Missouri Family to Family (Missouri’s Parent-to-Parent alliance member), mentoring and assisting other parents and family members that have children with the similar disabilities as her daughters. She assisted as an employment specialist and volunteered with the Summit Future Foundation in a life skills group. 

Karen’s personal experience comes from caring for her mother years ago and parenting children with developmental disabilities. She is passionate about assisting other families that have children or other family members with disabilities seek out the appropriate resources.

Secretary

Melissa Johnson has worked in the human services field for many years, with a focus on supporting veterans and the families of service members. Melissa has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.  She has led her local Cadette Girl Scout Troop for 10 years. Melissa is the Sergeant at Arms and Poppy Chair for her local American Legion Post 379 in Oak Grove, Missouri. Melissa also serves as President for The Community Helper, Inc., another 501(c)3 in Oak Grove, Missouri that assists in fund raising for the police, fire and EMT services. Melissa is a Big Sister for Big Brother Big Sister. She has one teenage daughter and she helps take care of her significant other, an OEF veteran; her mother; and her grandparents.

Board Member

Dianna Englander joined the Lifescape Law & Development team in the winter of 2023 after 8 years working with seniors at a local nonprofit organization in the northland. Dianna is an empathetic listener and skilled at finding answers. She has spent her professional career helping people and solving problems. She earned a Business Management degree from Park University and a Master in Public Health from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. She has worked as a microbiologist, project manager and customer service representative at a local healthcare software company before finding and pursuing her passion in the nonprofit sector.

The last 8 years she spent helping older adults and persons with disabilities get benefits and remain in their homes.As a Certified SHIP Medicare counselor, she helped many people find the Medicare resources they needed. In addition, she has extensive experience with Missouri Medicaid services and other essential resources. She has a wide network of experts who she can contact for help as needed.

She is married to the love of her life. They have 5 children, 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren so far. Their current “babies” are a 2-year-old shih tzu and a 6 year old sheltie who they adopted after his owner passed away. They live in Gladstone after many years in the Kearney area raising horses. They volunteer at various places and feel blessed to be able to help others.