New Community Services Director
Jonathan Penn named new Community Services Programs Director
for New River Community Action
New River Community Action (NRCA) congratulates Mr. Jonathan Penn as the agency’s new Community Services Program Director. Mr. Penn will ensure program compliance and resources to address needs of the community and low-income clients for NRCA programs: Homeless & Housing Programs, Emergency Assistance and Food Pantries, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, VA CARES (Community Action Re-Entry System), and the Floyd BackPack Program.
Mr. Penn is a 1970’s era alumnus of NRCA Head Start and a graduate of Pulaski County High School. Mr. Penn holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Military Institute in History and a Master’s in Education and Administration from Virginia State University. He initially aspired to be a principal, but instead found his way into human services.
Mr. Penn worked in homeless services programs for over ten years in Richmond, including daily operations similar to NRCA’s Homeless and Housing Programs. The Richmond program also operated a homeless shelter at the local Veteran’s Hospital. Mr. Penn has worked as a school teacher, then later in the Community in Schools’ drop-out prevention program for seven years. Mr. Penn always seemed to find himself in the non-profit field, wanting to work and give back. Coming across the ad for the NRCA Community Services Programs Director, he noticed the similarities to his previous position working with the homeless and found his connection back to New River Community Action.
Mr. Penn is enjoying learning about the programs assigned to his new position and is looking forward to getting the full grasp on administration, including all the required data entry! As he learns more about each program, he is impressed with the excellent team chemistry and family-oriented environment at NRCA. As an avid sports player and coach, he appreciates the team approach. As Mr. Penn continues to learn and grow in his new position, he never wants to forget how the staff in the field work hard to provide the services and are the heart of the organization.
New River Community Action welcomes and looks forward to working with Mr. Penn utilizing his skills and experience to serve as a liaison to our community.