Where History Breathes: Mechelle Lawrence-Adams on the soul of Mission San Juan Capistrano

In this episode of Shady Characters, we sit down with Mechelle Lawrence-Adams, Executive Director of Mission San Juan Capistrano, to explore what it really means to steward 250 years of history while shaping its future.

Mechelle’s connection to the mission began at age ten on a school field trip with her single mother. Years later, after a career in city government and economic development, she unexpectedly found herself leading the very place that once inspired her. Now more than two decades into her tenure, her imprint is deeply woven into the preservation, programming, and culture of the mission.

This conversation goes far beyond architecture and restoration. Mechelle shares how preservation is not about putting history behind glass, but about keeping it alive and accessible. From creating inclusive audio tours in multiple languages to launching children’s programming and projection mapped storytelling on the ruins, she explains how the mission continues to evolve without losing its soul.

We also hear about leadership in action. Mechelle runs the mission like a small city, guided by four pillars: stewardship, guest experience, safety, and service. She speaks candidly about hiring with intention, building a culture of accountability and love, and empowering her team to act with confidence and care. Stories of staff loyalty, handwritten notes, and workplace celebrations reveal a leader who sees people as the true foundation of any institution.

Perhaps most powerful are the quiet moments she describes. A widower returning to the bench where he had his first date. A child lighting a candle for a mother with cancer. Visitors who arrive not simply to tour a landmark, but to process grief, memory, and hope. For Mechelle, every guest brings a soul across the threshold, and the responsibility is sacred.

The episode also explores her life beyond the mission. A devoted wife, mother, skier, traveler, and reader of 18th century history, Mechelle shares how family, adventure, and faith fuel her leadership. Together with her husband, who leads the Discovery Cube, she continues to say yes to new challenges, new ideas, and new ways of serving the community.

This is a conversation about purpose, reinvention, and the quiet power of doing all things in love. Under Mechelle’s guidance, the mission is not just preserved. It breathes.