--- title: "About Lynn Community Impact – Mission, History & Team" url: https://lynnimpact.org/about description: "Learn about Lynn Community Impact (formerly Lynn Institute), our mission to build healthy, hopeful communities across Oklahoma, and the team behind the work." lang: en --- Image: Neighbors listening together during a Lynn Community Impact wellness workshop (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/about-hero-lg-CWGho7E_.webp) About # Healthy, hopeful Oklahomans. Lynn Community Impact is a nonprofit dedicated to creating and sustaining healthy, hopeful communities across Oklahoma. Our Mission & Vision ## Empowering Oklahomans with healthy habits. > To create and sustain healthy, hopeful communities across Oklahoma. We are dedicated to helping create a future where every Oklahoman thrives, both physically and emotionally. Through the comprehensive array of programs, we address the diverse health needs of our communities — from access to fresh produce from our community gardens, to learning healthy living habits through our educational programing, to connecting with At Risk populations. By cultivating partnerships and leveraging local resources, we build resilient, hopeful communities where all Oklahomans can achieve their full health potential. How We Work ## A backbone for community health. Today, we focus on sustainable community change through collaboration, coordination, and a shared vision. As a backbone organization, Lynn Community Impact plays a central role in aligning efforts among nonprofits, public agencies, and community partners to address some of the most pressing health and wellness challenges facing underserved populations in Oklahoma. ### Our role includes: - · Facilitating partnerships that break down silos and encourage joint problem-solving. - · Providing infrastructure to support collaboration, communication, and accountability. - · Using community-based research to inform strategies and amplify resident voices. - · Developing and managing impactful programs that address root causes of health disparities. Our History ## From healthcare research to community impact. Our organization developed through a partnership with the INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Research Department in Oklahoma City. In 1997, the Lynn Institute separated from INTEGRIS and was established as the Lynn Institute for Healthcare Research, Inc. (LIHR), an independent, nonprofit entity. For many years, the nonprofit focused on basic medical research and sleep studies. In 2012, LIHR transitioned to a new mission and began focusing on community health research. As a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, the organization began developing Lynn Healthy Community plans for neighborhoods, special groups, and disease-specific situations. The four-step process included identifying the at-risk population, defining the unique health risk, publishing findings, and assembling a collaborative to adopt a sustainable plan to improve the health of the community. Lynn Healthy Community — NE OKC launched in 2016 with a 10-year plan to achieve measurable health goals. In the News ## Lynn Community Impact in the press. News 9 ### Oklahoma City research organization rebrands to community impact group https://www.news9.com/news-video/local-organization-rebrands-to-community-impact-group Journal Record ### Lynn Institute rebrands as it evolves toward community impact https://journalrecord.com/2026/09/10/lynn-institute-rebrands-lynn-community-impact-oklahoma-city/ Staff ## The people behind the work. Image: Lisa Buck (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/lisa-buck-C6kgeMVB.webp) ### Lisa Buck Chief Executive Officer Image: Tonya Ratcliff (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/tonya-ratcliff-BEzlwgAv.webp) ### Tonya Ratcliff VP of Development Image: Brandi Beins (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/brandi-beins-B81fTVn2.webp) ### Brandi Beins Training Facilitator and Programs Manager Image: Jordan Davis (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/jordan-davis-new-BdhGrPlk.webp) ### Jordan Davis Director of Community Gardens Image: Starla Lang (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/starla-lang-DjiUmMPH.webp) ### Starla Lang Executive Assistant Image: Pamela Patty, RD/LD (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/pamela-patty-C1lh3OqN.jpg) ### Pamela Patty, RD/LD Community Wellness Dietitian Image: Caleb Reed (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/caleb-reed-BnnJc5SH.jpg) ### Caleb Reed Lead Gardener Image: Dollie Sherrill (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/dollie-sherrill-new-BtQI8lJw.webp) ### Dollie Sherrill Image: Yanet Trejo (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/yanet-trejo-new-Bg9ob5Fo.webp) ### Yanet Trejo Director of Community Engagement Board of Directors ## Guiding our mission. Image: Elizabeth Dalton (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/elizabeth-dalton-new-BcM-thp9.webp) ### Elizabeth Dalton Chair Image: Michelle Dennison-Farris, Ph.D. (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/michelle-dennison-new-db-RdzhZ.webp) ### Michelle Dennison-Farris, Ph.D. Chair-Elect Image: Kersey Winfree, M.D. (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/kersey-winfree-D_Ame7AS.jpg) ### Kersey Winfree, M.D. Past Chair Image: Cheryl Pennington (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/cheryl-pennington-new-CiTfW_wm.webp) ### Cheryl Pennington Treasurer Image: Linda Horn (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/linda-horn-new-CEe8Dc-i.webp) ### Linda Horn Secretary Image: Norma Condreay (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/norma-condreay-new-DB42fk13.webp) ### Norma Condreay Communications Image: Leslie Kendrick (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/leslie-kendrick-new-BWJz0EbV.webp) ### Leslie Kendrick Governance Image: Charles Dodson (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/charles-dodson-new-B7DkJqDD.webp) ### Charles Dodson Board Member Image: Robert Foreman, Ph.D. (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/robert-foreman-new-CX9EvwPE.webp) ### Robert Foreman, Ph.D. Board Member Image: Kenneth W. Smith (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/kenneth-smith-new-CH4tfCI7.webp) ### Kenneth W. Smith Board Member Image: Leslie Lynn (https://lynnimpact.org/assets/leslie-lynn-EScsSUeP.jpg) ### Leslie Lynn Board Member Emeritus ### Emeritus Board Members - · Tom Coniglione, M.D. - · Marc Edwards - · Larry Evans - · Nancy Hall, Ph.D. - · Thomas Lynn - · William Orr - · Ira Schlezinger - · Jerry Tubb ### President Emeritus Karen Vinyard Waddell — former President/Chief Executive Officer of the Lynn Institutes, with more than 30 years of hospital administration and healthcare leadership. ## Structured data ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NGO", "name": "Lynn Community Impact", "alternateName": "Lynn Institute", "url": "https://lynnimpact.org", "logo": "https://lynnimpact.org/favicon.png", "description": "A 501(c)(3) nonprofit advancing community health in Oklahoma City by improving food security, advancing health and wellness education, and engaging at-risk youth.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "815 NW 58th Street", "addressLocality": "Oklahoma City", "addressRegion": "OK", "postalCode": "73116", "addressCountry": "US" }, "telephone": "+1-405-967-6680", "email": "info@lynnimpact.org", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/lihrinc/" ] } ```