RiseKit Nonprofit Staff Member of the Month: Kay PanElle

Every month, RiseKit will be lifting up a nonprofit staff member in our network who is doing hard work to make a difference in the lives of others. This month, we’re excited to celebrate Keaylah (Kay) PanElle, a DFSS WFD Re-Entry Resource Navigator at Centers for New Horizons, Inc. Ms. PanElle also serves on RiseKit’s Advisory Board.

Continue reading to get to know more about her work!

RiseKit: Briefly tell me a little about yourself – where you live, education, hobbies, etc!

Kay: I currently live in Hyde Park, having recently relocated from Whitehall, Ohio. I hold degrees in public relations, sociology/social work, and nonprofit management and fundraising. I also have all my class hours and clock hours for my Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor (CADC) and Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorder Professional (CODP) certifications along with various other certificates and certifications.  

I am an avid painter and I love all things art related. I love to travel and I move from cause to cause in search of making a difference.

R: What is your relationship to RiseKit?  

K: I was trained to use RiseKit’s software after taking my current position. Apparently RiseKit liked my contributions because they allowed me to give input on potential enhancements to their system.

R: Where do you currently work and what do you do?

K: I currently work for Centers for New Horizons in the “Extra” Program. This program seeks to employ felons and help people in at-risk situations. I remove barriers to employment before placement, whether it includes helping obtain rental assistance, training, food, shelter or clothing. When people know you care…when they know YOU SEE THEM AND THEIR PLIGHT…they will do anything for you, even succeed.

R: Why are you passionate about your role?

K: This program will be housed in Englewood and I grew up there. It has always been my dream to come back and work with black men in my neighborhood. This labor of love is the culmination of many years of hard work and education. I made it a point 30 years ago to work in every sector of the nonprofit world and with all population types to learn everything necessary to come back to Chicago for exactly this.