"I believe wholeheartedly in the ability of the arts and cultural connectedness to create strong and thriving communities, and that starts with cultivating individual relationships in which people feel seen, heard, and valued. Over my twenty years in the arts & culture impact sector, here are a handful of the things that continue to wow me the most."
Outreach
By creating and fostering genuine and positive connections with individuals, tribes, and communities throughout the MidAtlantic region, Jess increased American Indian and Alaska Native engagement in culturally-centered Urban Indian Health services by 1000% over 3-5 years.
Cross Cultural Collaboration
Through thoughtful listening, careful advocacy and cultural humility, Jess has stewarded a continuing collaboration between Mennonite and Indigenous communities of the Lower Susquehanna, allowing shared histories to be told with respect toward efforts at Honor and Healing.
Advocating for the acknowledgement and inclusion of contemporary and urban Indigenous histories, perspectives, priorities, and voices, including unrecognized and detribalized historical communities, Jess has served as an advisor to state land acknowledgement resource projects; national efforts to formulate guidance and best practices for state arts agencies in engaging and supporting Indigenous artists, tribes, communities, and organizations in their states; and facilitated strategic actions with colleges engaged in creating welcoming and supportive learning environments for Indigenous students and learners of all ages.
Advocating for the acknowledgement and inclusion of contemporary and urban Indigenous histories, perspectives, priorities, and voices, including unrecognized and detribalized historical communities, Jess has served as an advisor to state land acknowledgement resource projects; national efforts to formulate guidance and best practices for state arts agencies in engaging and supporting Indigenous artists, tribes, communities, and organizations in their states; and facilitated strategic actions with colleges engaged in creating welcoming and supportive learning environments for Indigenous students and learners of all ages.
Mentorship & Education
Eager to learn and share skills, Jess has hosted fine art, craft, and life skills workshops in partnership with galleries, museums, and cultural centers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
Working with Indigenous youth, adult and two-spirit groups, Jess has created and co-created programming to strengthen individual identity and expression, build social supports, increase community cohesion, and deepen cultural-connectedness, improving key protective factors in the health of Indigenous communities.
Through partnerships with colleges and cultural institutions, Jess has introduced human centered strengths based strategies to creating supportive learning environments for Indigenous students, entrepreneurs, and life-long learners.
Working with Indigenous youth, adult and two-spirit groups, Jess has created and co-created programming to strengthen individual identity and expression, build social supports, increase community cohesion, and deepen cultural-connectedness, improving key protective factors in the health of Indigenous communities.
Through partnerships with colleges and cultural institutions, Jess has introduced human centered strengths based strategies to creating supportive learning environments for Indigenous students, entrepreneurs, and life-long learners.
Leadership
Placing high value on critique and willingness to grow and change, Jess implemented changes and created strategies and controls that radically improved financial health of a federally contracted public provider, critical to the wellbeing of dramatically underserved Urban Indian populations. Her culturally centered approach to responsible and ethical fiscal management in a health and social services setting is truly unique to her leadership.
Recognizing the strengths and frustrations of teams, Jess has facilitated a number of strategic initiatives from board and staff development to strategic planning to increase board, staff, and volunteer engagement, reigniting care, compassion, inspiration and renewed direction among individuals serving a common mission.
Jess quiet, careful leadership seeks to balance and amplify the strengths of those around her while steadily advancing the missions important to building stronger communities.
Recognizing the strengths and frustrations of teams, Jess has facilitated a number of strategic initiatives from board and staff development to strategic planning to increase board, staff, and volunteer engagement, reigniting care, compassion, inspiration and renewed direction among individuals serving a common mission.
Jess quiet, careful leadership seeks to balance and amplify the strengths of those around her while steadily advancing the missions important to building stronger communities.
Copyright Jess McPherson, 2024.