Kennedy Chester is a communications professional dedicated to making a difference in her community and beyond. She is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Social and Economic Justice. Her passion for both communications and social advocacy is a core driver of her professional career and she is grateful for the opportunity to pursue those passions every day at LINK.

Kennedy has led a wide variety of projects for clients across different sectors and industries. She’s been closely involved in LINK’s organizational development work, including leading organizational assessments and organizational restructuring projects for multiple clients. She’s also gained valuable experience in large-scale community engagement projects by organizing and executing complex processes related to facilitation, research, deliverable creation, and more. She’s been part of several strategic planning processes and greatly enjoys the structure and process that drives research-based projects.

Prior to joining LINK, she worked with several organizations in both the nonprofit and for-profit space in North Carolina. Through those experiences, she gained valuable skills in strategic communications, research, content creation, and more. Most importantly, she saw firsthand the power of intentional and genuine community engagement and how it plays a role in addressing challenges and driving success. She now brings that experience to LINK to continue making a difference in our local communities.

Kennedy is an avid cook, reader, amateur barista, gamer, and spends most of her free time attending concerts or listening to music. After spending a few years living in Washington, DC, she now resides in Durham, NC and leads LINK's Research Triangle office. A true southerner at heart, she is deeply passionate about her local community and home state.