Katie McIlwain
Director, Connection Center (Community Ministries) @Cokesbury United Methodist Church
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WORK HISTORY
Director, Connection Center (Community Ministries) @Cokesbury United Methodist Church
Knoxville, TN, US
Founded and scaled The Connection Center, a community-based service hub connecting individuals to essential services.• Led multi-agency collaborations to integrate legal, healthcare, and housing services into daily operations.• Secured over in grant funding for program expansion and financial sustainability.
EDUCATION
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Executive Certificate, Social Enterprise Effectiveness
Presbyterian College
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Master of Social Work - MSW
ABOUT KATIE MCILWAIN
I’m a mission-driven strategist and program leader with 15+ years of experience advancing housing stability, economic mobility, and equitable access to services. As Director of The Connection Center, I’ve built a trauma-informed, volunteer-powered model that connects thousands of people annually to food, housing, legal, and healthcare support. I also chair the Knoxville Office of Housing Stability and have served on the Homeless Coalition’s executive team, helping align regional response systems. My background includes fundraising over $370K in grants, facilitating multi-agency partnerships, and scaling community-led initiatives with measurable outcomes. Whether through program design, coalition building, or advocacy, my work is rooted in accessibility, effectiveness, and relationship. Let’s connect—I’m always eager to collaborate, learn, and help create just and thriving communities.
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