Community Spotlight: Lance Kennedy

For 25 years, Lance Kennedy has called Pembroke home.

A longtime community leader with deep roots in local youth sports and town government, he now serves as the Pembroke Community Center’s Community Services Director, overseeing recreation, senior services, waterfronts, and parks. .

His path to public service wasn’t a straight line, but his passion for community has shaped every step along the way.

Pembroke Citizen Journal reporter, Carolyn Cleary, recently sat down with Lance to learn about his Pembroke story.

PCJ: How long have you been in town?

LK: I’ve been a resident for 25 years. I have a son and a daughter. My daughter is at University of New Hampshire, and my son is a junior at Pembroke High School.

PCJ: Was being Community Services Director always your trajectory?

LK: Interestingly, no. I went to school to be a lawyer. After graduation, a family emergency brought me back home to stay with my dad. I started substitute teaching and realized how much I loved it, so I went back to school to earn my teaching degree.

I taught for a while but found that many of my students were dealing with issues far beyond the classroom—things I couldn’t really help with as a teacher. I then had the opportunity to oversee a kindergarten program at the YMCA, and that opened so many doors. The Y serves the whole family.

I worked there for about 20 years, eventually becoming an executive director of branches. Community service work has always been my passion. I probably should have realized earlier that I’d end up in service, but it took me a while to get there. I still use that “lawyer side” occasionally, but for the most part, it’s about people—and I love working with people.

PCJ: How long have you been activities director?

LK: My role has been twofold. I was hired as Recreation Director two and a half years ago. When the town built the Community Center, the town manager decided to expand the position into Community Services Director. I now oversee Senior Services, the Recreation Department, our town waterfronts, and our parks and recreation programs.

PCJ: I imagine the job has changed quite a bit.

LK: Every day brings something new, which is great. Everything I’ve done leading up to this has been community-focused work, and it’s especially meaningful to serve my own community. It was also easier stepping into the role because I already knew many of the key players in town. I was involved in youth sports and served on the School Committee. I’ve worked with the superintendent and town manager in different capacities, so having that foundation helped tremendously.

PCJ: What is your favorite part of your job?

LK: My favorite part is working with people. Everyone brings a story. This community center means something different to each person. For some, it’s a lifeline to activity and social connection.

Our model is unique and multigenerational. Seniors can build social connections while also seeing young people in the building laughing and playing—and they love that. We even have intergenerational classes. I’ve seen older gentlemen shooting hoops in the afternoon alongside kids. Hearing those stories and seeing what the center can be for people is what draws me here every day.

PCJ: What are the biggest challenges?

LK: The challenges come with being a new building and a new entity in town. We’re still shaping what we can and should become. The needs of the community really drive that. How do we serve seniors, youth, and families all under one roof?

Over the past year and a half, we’ve started to figure it out—and people love it. Some were hesitant about a shared building at first, but now they see the value. Senior Services used to host one program per hour; now we can run seven to ten programs at a time. The opportunities have expanded tremendously.

Finances will always be a challenge. We could rent the building exclusively to paying groups and cover costs that way—but how do we keep it open and accessible to residents? Over the next few years, the town will continue to define that balance.

The biggest challenge is stewardship—making sure we use this building wisely and in ways that truly serve the community.

PCJ: The first thing I noticed is was how intergenerational the atmosphere is.

LK: I think that’s so important. We’ve lost some of that over time. Technology has pulled us away from one another, and my hope is that this center becomes a hub where people reconnect.

PCJ: What skills are most valuable in your job?

LK: Flexibility and adaptability are essential. Communication is also key. We’ve set up a membership system—even though the building is open to everyone—because it allows us to communicate important updates, like storm-related closures.

We also serve as the town’s warming shelter. We have showers and a kitchen so we can support residents during emergencies. Being prepared and keeping communication open is critical.

PCJ: Having a strong community center is important. What we have now is astounding.

LK: I hope residents feel pride in it. With the library, Town Hall, and the Green nearby, this campus is becoming a real center of community life.

Last year we hosted our first Pembroke Community Day in partnership with the Arts Festival. We’re creating more events to bring people together, and now we finally have a space to do that.

PCJ: What does a great day look like for you?

LK: I’m always challenging our team—and myself. If I’m not growing, I can’t help anyone else grow. We attend conferences, and I’m involved with the state Parks and Recreation board, learning from peers. Since I oversee town waterfronts, I stay current on aquatic safety as well.

Day to day, it’s about collaboration. We have a beautiful facility but limited staff, so we partner with surrounding towns for programming. They may have the resources, and we have the space. It’s about finding smart ways to bring opportunities back to our residents.

PCJ: What is your biggest hope going forward?

LK: My hope is that the community fully embraces this facility. We’ve already seen significant growth in participation since the first year. Even if someone comes in just to vote, they get a sense of what this space offers.

I’d love to see deeper collaboration with our neighbors—the library, the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and the Farmer’s Market. There’s so much potential when town services work together.

With Recreation Commission support, we host Entertainment on the Green, the Egg Hunt, and now the annual holiday Tree Lighting. We’ve welcomed back the Arts Festival, Public Safety Day, an end-of-school-year water balloon fight and a Veteran’s Day event.

My goal over the next five years is simple: I want all 18,000 residents of Pembroke to walk through these doors at least once and experience the value of this building for themselves.