Daily Independent: Meet Your Neighbor: Despres CEO of Circle the City

Kim Despres, who has been a nurse for 40 years, is CEO of Circle the City, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers outpatient care, respite care, street medicine and mobile medical care, and has a hospital health navigator program.

In 2012, Circle the City opened Arizona’s first respite care center for people facing homelessness.

The nonprofit — which has respite centers at 210 S. 12th Ave. and 333 W. Indian School Road in Phoenix — in 2022 received a grant for a respite center in the East Valley, which is to open in 2025 or 2026.

Your Name: Kim Despres

Age: 61

Business Name: Circle the City; circlethecity.org.

Town/Neighborhood: Phoenix (Maricopa County)

Hours of operation: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. for our clinics and outreach; 24/7 for our respite centers.

Personal background highlights: I have lived in Arizona for 50 years and love it. My family lives here, including my 88-year-old father, so it’s great to be able to see him quite often. I grew up at Luke Air Force Base where my father was stationed. He retired after 20 years.

Professional background highlights: I have been a nurse for 40 years. I have worked in all areas of health care including acute care, home health, and currently in nonprofit. My work here at Circle the City has been the highlight of my career. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, a master’s degree in health care administration and a doctorate in health care administration.

What I do: CEO of the nonprofit Circle the City;