Kyndra Minchew is a Project Director at Counter Tools and is fueled by her passion for creating health equity for all populations. Learn more about Kyndra’s background in her staff profile below:
Tell us a little bit about your background before you came to Counter Tools.
I grew up in a small town in central Illinois and moved to Carbondale, Illinois to complete my undergraduate studies and earn my Master of Public Health from Southern Illinois University. During my time in southern Illinois, I had the privilege of working within the community benefits department at a local hospital system under various grants pertaining to substance misuse, community health, and school health as a graduate assistant. These experiences deepened my understanding of public health challenges and reinforced my commitment to addressing health disparities.
After graduate school, I secured a position as a tobacco cessation coordinator and co-led a local coalition focused on reducing tobacco disparities through policy, systems, and environmental changes in southern Illinois. This role allowed me to engage directly with the community and work on impactful health initiatives.
How long have you worked at Counter Tools and what made you decide to work here?
I began working at Counter Tools in May 2024. In my previous role, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Counter Tools on a local coalition project in southern Illinois. I was inspired by the mission of improving place-based public health and the team’s ability to help states and local authorities across the country. Additionally, I respected Counter Tools’ core values of equity, diversity, and inclusion and how they put them at the forefront of their work, which oftentimes many organizations overlook. This alignment with my own values made joining Counter Tools an easy decision.
What is something you enjoy about your role?
As a project director, I have the honor of working with various clients across the country to advance their initiatives on creating healthier outcomes for their communities. I see this role as an opportunity to help states break down barriers to enacting successful and equitable PSE change related to place-based public health.
The best part of my role is the meaningful connections I get to make with each individual client, which allows me to understand their unique needs and provide tailored support. I love how my role provides endless opportunities to continuously learn and improve myself, helping me grow both professionally and personally. Our small but mighty team here at Counter Tools is pretty awesome too!
Do you have any pets, children, or other family members you’d like to mention?
I plan to move back to central Illinois very soon to be closer to my family, especially my nephews and niece! My husband, Zach, is an aircraft mechanic, and we enjoy spending our time exploring the outdoors, watching captivating Netflix movies, and cuddling with our cats!
