Welcoming Jennifer Malkoun as HealthSpark's new Administrative Coordinator

Jennifer (Jen) joins HealthSpark as Administrative Coordinator and is excited to contribute her skills in collaborative project design and management, program facilitation, and non-profit leadership to help grow the Foundation’s impact across Montgomery County. Prior to joining HealthSpark, Jen was with Greener Partners a Philadelphia-based non-profit committed to strengthening community health through gardening, equitable fresh food access, and experiential learning. For over a decade she worked at the intersection of human and planetary health, supporting non-profits, healthcare systems, schools, and communities address food insecurity and the lack of accessible greenspace through the creation of urban farms and gardens. Along the way she discovered the power and transformative joy of community-driven programs, the critical role collaboration plays in creating positive social change, and the principle of interdependence. She believes that food and gardening are medicine and when communities are able to grow and access food for themselves it has the capacity to promote health, equity, and belonging. 

Jen’s commitment to HealthSpark’s vision and mission is motivated by her belief that true equity is community-centered and community-driven, and collaboration is key to building community power. While serving Greener Partners Jen was instrumental in shaping an internal and external culture of inclusion and belonging through the creation of policies and practices reflective of those pillars. Led by a desire to serve her community in a greater capacity, Jen ran for Media Borough Council in 2023. She sits on several committees where she is a voice for building an affordable housing strategy and protecting open and green space. She is particularly inspired by HealthSpark’s Housing Justice Framework and is eager to lean into HealthSpark’s guiding principles of courage, justice, integrity, and hope. 

Jen’s approach to collaboration is informed by her experience in agriculture, public service, and yoga teaching. She believes in a systems-based approach that values deep listening, reflection and observation, network-weaving, and humility. At HealthSpark, Jen is ready to learn, grow, and create with the team and its diverse partners across the county to support community power, community leadership, and community solutions.

Welcome, Jen!