Meet Yakia McKinnie, MPH, CHES Community Engagement Coordinator, Meals on Wheels and Population Health
In eight short months, Yakia McKinnie, MPH, CHES, Community Engagement Coordinator, Meals on Wheels and Population Health, has found her rhythm. After graduating with her Master of Public Health from the University of Mississippi, she knew that she wanted to stay in the healthcare industry and venture into the nonprofit world. She landed firmly at the Visiting Nurse Association. “My grandparents were Meals on Wheels recipients,” Yakia explains. “Because I spent so much time with them, I saw firsthand how the meals and the volunteers affected them. I could relate.”
Yakia’s primary role is to find, create and nurture potential and current volunteer relationships. She may spend her day researching different companies, attending networking events in the Dallas area, or meeting new volunteers at meal pick up depots to ensure a smooth experience. She also oversees the Meals on Wheels Days of Caring events for various companies, schools and organizations. She’s looking forward to upcoming events with the employees from Louis Vuitton, the City of Dallas Department of Aviation and Comerica.
Yakia was also an instrumental player in the success of the first VNA Meals on Wheels Kids Camp. She led the lesson that introduced the campers, ages 8-11, to the idea of social isolation, and how volunteerism can help ease feelings of loneliness. “It was perfect timing that Inside Out 2 premiered so I was able to incorporate the characters during my lesson and keep the content relatable. One of the most common take aways from my lesson that the campers had is that it doesn’t take much to bring others joy,” she said.
As a newish Dallasite, Yakia spends her free time exploring Dallas and finding new restaurants and attractions. She is also a parent to Poochie, her three-year-old chihuahua. You’ll often find them in the local dog parks as Poochie is working on his socialization skills.