Meet the Herd: Kennedy

Meet Kennedy, one of the Zebra Centre’s Centre Coordinators! She shares all about her role, what a typical day in life as Centre Coordinator looks like, and so much more.

Q: Tell us about your role as Centre Coordinator at the Zebra Centre. 

Kennedy: As half of the Centre Coordinator team, my main jobs are to liaise with our partners to keep each day running smoothly, and to welcome the kiddos and families who come into our Centre and help make them feel safe and comfortable while they’re with us.  

Q: What does a typical “day in the life” as Centre Coordinator look like? 

Kennedy: I’m not sure there is a “typical” day in the life! I work the afternoon shift, so the day is already well underway once I arrive. I usually start my shift by restocking all our snack carts, making sure our blanket ladders and toy closet are fully loaded, and making sure all our family spaces are tidy, welcoming, and kid-friendly. From there, I’ll start putting the day plan together for the following day, catch up on any interview scheduling that needs to be done, and assist with other admin-related tasks. All while also hosting the families that come into the Centre and ensuring they’ve got everything they need. 

Q: What do you love most about your role? 

Kennedy: I’m usually the first person our kiddos and families interact with when they arrive at the Centre, and I don’t take that responsibility lightly! It’s super important to me that the first face they see is a friendly one, and I feel very lucky that being that face is part of my role. 

Q: What is your proudest moment at the Zebra Centre so far? 

Kennedy: It’s so hard to narrow down any single moments, but anytime a kiddo leaves the Centre happier than when they arrived. There are a lot of reasons why these kiddos and their caregivers are here, and none of them are easy. Seeing that shift happen and knowing that they’re feeling even a little bit lighter after talking to us is so rewarding. I’m also insanely proud of the amazing team of people I work with! This job can be so tough, but being surrounded by such an awesome crew definitely makes things easier. 

Q: What motivates you to show your stripes (your why)? 

Kennedy: The strength I’ve seen and continue to see in the kiddos and their caregivers that come through our Centre is what motivates me. It can be extremely overwhelming and exhausting for them to try and navigate through these difficult situations, and I have such a tremendous amount of respect for any child/youth brave enough to share their story. 

Q: Lastly, share a surprising or fun fact about you. 

Kennedy: I fostered kittens off and on for about six years! Usually either injured or feral babies, including a very sweet amputee girl named Tina.