Trillium Staff Profile: Kendra Pennington
Date: 01/31/23
“I like being out and about in the community,” said Kendra Pennington, Trillium’s Community Outreach and Engagement Manager for the Tri-County region. “It’s where life happens!”
Kendra, who joined Trillium in January, is already busy cultivating new and existing partnerships with community-based organizations to further health equity initiatives, increase access to care, and build healthier communities. She also manages the Tri-County Community Advisory Board.
Kendra has a passion for meeting community members where they’re at and connecting them with culturally responsive resources and support systems that help improve health and wellness.
“I’m really interested in exploring ways we can develop and strengthen partnerships that effectively address the social determinants of health,” she said. “I have a Masters in Social Work (MSW), and this background is particularly helpful in understanding how multiple factors intersect to create positive change. We often need to support our members by helping them navigate multiple agencies. For instance, someone may need housing and senior disability services, as well as access to their PCP. It’s all about caring for the whole person.”
Previously, Kendra served as the Older Adults and Aging (OAA) Program Manager for the Lane Council of Governments Senior and Disability Services. She was responsible for 13 programs, including Meals on Wheels. She also worked as a Constituent Services Representative and Internship Coordinator for Senator Ron Wyden.
“Initially I got connected with Senator Wyden’s office because I was an MSW student seeking an internship where I could help impact policy in the Medicare, Medicaid and disability fields,” said Kendra. “After six months, I became a Constituent Services Representative who helped Oregonians with questions and challenges related to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, retirement, and more.” She also attended Senator Wyden’s town hall meetings with community members and community-based organizations so she could learn more about how to help Oregonians by advocating for policy change and needed resources.
“I remember meeting one of our constituents who had terminal cancer,” said Kendra. “They were out of benefits, they needed food, and this was during a government shutdown. It was a very dire situation–Senator Wyden spoke about it on the Senate floor. In the end, we were able to get this constituent access to what they needed that same day. There is nothing more rewarding than helping make someone’s life a little bit better and letting them know they have someone in their corner fighting for them.”
At its core, Kendra believes that effective community engagement begins with a conversation.
“I look forward to talking with our members and community partners,” she said. “I like to hear how things are going, both in terms of what’s working well and what barriers people are facing. I am interested to learn your thoughts about how Trillium may be able to support your initiatives, as well as what other organizations we can connect you with to help address both immediate needs and make long-term, sustainable change in the future.”
If you’re interested in exploring partnership opportunities in the Tri-County area, please email Kendra Pennington. She’d love the opportunity to have a conversation and learn more.