Shaun Block served on the Openlands Board of Directors from 1978 to 2015 and was its President (now Chair) from 1990 to 1993. During her time as President, Openlands began its TreeKeepers program, the Great Perennial Divide project, and efforts to create Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Also, during Shaun’s tenure, Openlands launched the 21st Century Open Space Plan, which conducted the first Chicago-wide inventory of vacant lots and received the first American Greenways Award from the National Geographic Society and the Conservation Fund.
For her leadership, support, and advocacy for the work of Openlands, Shaun was elected as an Honorary Member of the Board of Directors in 2015.