As a Philadelphia native, Rhena McClain is no stranger to the impact that poverty has on marginalized communities. She has committed her life to working alongside community members, religious and non-profit organizations, to strengthen and empower communities where the impacts are most severe.
Rhena currently serves as the Director of St. Barnabas Mission, ECS’s burgeoning community center in the Carroll Park area of West Philadelphia, where she is leading the effort to create a safe space that will lend itself to the revitalization effort of this community and positively impact its members. Her recent accomplishments include the expansion of ECS’s senior meal delivery program and the development of an Open Choice Panty, a no-cost, dignity based-food resource for individuals and families managing food insecurity.
Rhena began her career in the corporate world leading, grassroots initiatives to reduce healthcare inequality, after joining ECS in 2014, she’s held positions of progressively greater responsibility in ECS’s emergency housing program, which was formerly located at the St. Barnabas Mission site. Her transformational leadership style contributed to the creation of an emergency housing environment with a strong sense of community, where staff and participants felt valued, supported and respected. During her tenure with ECS, Rhena has worked to build partnerships that provide life sustaining supports for participants and community members, while engaging donors and volunteers in a way that increases their awareness regarding individuals experiencing poverty.
