By Charissa Graves
Hutchinson Tribune Staff
HUTCHINSON—United Way of Reno County (UWRC) announced two new hires Wednesday. JK Vann will now serve as director of community impact, and Gary Race will be community navigator with the Reno Connections program.
“We are thrilled to welcome JK and Gary to the UWRC team,” said Lacey Mills, UWRC CEO. “They each have a deep passion for serving others in this community. Their leadership will strengthen our efforts to create meaningful impact and ensure all members of our community have the support they need.”
Using his background in banking and logistics, Vann will oversee and lead in the execution of UWRC’s community impact initiatives, which are “ designed to strengthen communities, foster collaboration, and ensure every individual can thrive.”
Outside of his professional experience, he said he is “deeply passionate about advocating for human rights and investing in future generations” on a personal level.
In Race’s new role with the Reno Connections program, he will be focusing on the assistance of households that fall under the category of asset limited, income constrained, employed, or “ALICE.” Since 2021, he has been working in Reno County in positions in public health, peer mentoring, case management and community partnerships.