Ken Shetter, who has led One Safe Place since it was founded more than two decades ago, stepped down from his role at the family justice center earlier this month.
Joel Glenn, the current board chair, is serving as interim CEO for the nonprofit located in the Near Southside.
Shetter stepped down from his position Oct. 5.
“It was one of the great honors of my life to get to lead the organization. I worked with great people, and enjoyed serving our board, our chairman for all those years,” Shetter told the Fort Worth Report. “But more than anything else, it was an honor to work on behalf of the survivors that we served for all those years.”
The Report was unable to speak with Glenn prior to publication.
Shetter said he had been quietly working to transition out of the organization for some time, citing health issues and the birth of his first grandchild as reasons for his decision. Over the last year, Shetter had been updating One Safe Place’s bylaws, which had not been rewritten since the nonprofit’s founding, and creating a C-suite leadership structure.
“It was good timing for the organization and good timing for me,” he said.
As a family justice center, One Safe Place is a leader in Fort Worth in providing safety and support for victims of domestic violence and sex trafficking, along with children and family services. The nonprofit’s 1100 Hemphill St. location houses offices for more than 25 organizations, including Unbound Now, Families to Freedom, Hagar’s Heart and The Ladder Alliance.
Shetter has been One Safe Place’s chief leader in some capacity since the organization was created in 2005. Then known as the Safe City Commission, the nonprofit was formed as part of a wave of family justice center openings internationally.
In 2014, One Safe Place went from a group of trailers to a 67,000-square-foot facility, now called the Linda Claire Morris building. Through one centralized location, the family justice center is able to redirect people needing safety and services. In 2025, One Safe Place had 32,561 client visits, 1,281 client intakes and 4,068 client referrals to other agencies.
Shetter, whose title has gone from executive director to president to CEO, was there for it all.
“There’s always a reason you could stay because there’s something right around the corner that you’re excited about, and that always would be true,” Shetter said. “But the programs are in the best shape they’ve ever been, the finances are in the best shape they’ve ever been, there’s lots of exciting things on the horizon. The organization is just in a great place.”
Michelle Morgan, chief operating officer for One Safe Place, said the organization is sad about Shetter’s departure but noted she and other leaders at the nonprofit are dedicated to continuing his legacy.
“We are committed to continuing to do the valuable work here in our community. And that’s a commitment that all of us have made to our board chairman,” Morgan said. “So I’m hopeful that we will do just fine through the transitionary phase that we are currently in.”
In addition to his work at One Safe Place, Shetter also served as mayor of Burleson from 2014-20.
Ismael M. Belkoura is the nonprofit editor for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from North Texas Community Foundation. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
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