Jessica Venegas Organizational Structure and Policy
Jessica has worked primarily in the nonprofit housing and community development sector and has over 14 years of urban community development and program management experience. Her work has encompassed connecting the links of existing assets within communities to be used as leverage for larger community development goals. This approach uses traditional data sources in partnership with primary data collection relevant for making community development work for all stakeholders. In her work with housing developers, this guides decision making on site location, potentials for leverage and relevant community partnerships.
Jessica also works for Common Ground National Programs as Director of Strategic Partnerships. In this role, she works nationally to build long term partners and resources for continuing the efforts to end homelessness through capacity building, housing development and policy change.
She was recently with UNITY of Greater New Orleans (UNITY) as Field Manager for Housing Development. There she staffed a long-term partnership with UNITY and Common Ground to facilitate the development of 500 new affordable and supportive housing units and to build the understanding and capacity locally to target rental units to house the chronically homeless.
Jessica uses her experience in program development, project management, policy advocacy, and public relations for building the capacity of Spark InSites to make a difference in how investment is connected to a holistic development framework. Her work in community asset mapping and experience in shaping and evaluating public policy offers an important contribution to Spark InSites.
Jessica began her work in Louisiana as Vice President of Public Policy for the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She came to Louisiana from Washington, DC where she was Director of Community Assessment with the Community Preservation and Development Corporation.
Jessica received her BA from Azusa Pacific University in Urban Community Development. She also earned a graduate certificate in Urban Redevelopment Excellence from the University of Pennsylvania. She was an inaugural Fellow in the Louisiana Effective Leaders Program, a one-year Fellowship offered to Louisiana leaders by the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke University and the School of Business at Southern University Baton Rouge. Jessica was named a 2009 Louisiana Heroine by the Louisiana Associations of Nonprofit Organizations for her board work with Puentes New Orleans, Inc, where she is still active on the Executive Committee. She also serves on the boards of the YWCA of Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Housing Alliance.
Favorite street in NOLA:
Magazine St.
Favorite restaurant in NOLA:
Herbsaint
Where I was when the Saints won the Super Bowl:
Kenna-bra, in a second line with Saints towels waving! Who Dat?!?