Jessica James
New Haven,CT
Summary
Collaborative, relationship-building community educator committed to anti-violence and anti-oppression, with demonstrated mastery in conflict transformation, lifecycle spiritual care, multigenerational training, public speaking, grant writing, project management and program evaluation. Any employment gaps represent lived experiences as a military spouse, parent, family caregiver and community organizer.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Affiliated Community Minister
All Soul Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation
11.2022 - Current
- Aids in regular fundraising efforts, annual stewardship campaign for operating budget, as well as 3 successful capital campaigns. Strengthens community outreach programs by collaborating with local organizations to provide support for underserved populations, particularly returning citizens and survivors of trafficking. Teaches restorative justice practices, resolves disputes and provides critical incident debriefs in multiple contexts through roles as Conflict Transformation Consultant and Peace and Justice Chaplain. Supports affiliated congregation's Senior ministers and staff as needed and shares entrepreneurial ministry with congregants. Officiates personalized multi-faith weddings, funerals and memorial services, including premarital counseling and bereavement care. Plans, authors and preaches for various worship services, rituals and retreats where requested. Provides multi-faith and secular spiritual direction, as well as writing coaching to individual clients.
Associate Minister
Circles of Spirit, Re-entry Ministry for Women
01.2020 - 04.2023
- Member of ministry team: Secured over $200,000 in direct gifts, grant funds, and in-kind donations for programming. Provided spiritual care, mentorship, practical aid and supplies, as well as iPads to 33 women re-entering society and repairing family relationships post-incarceration. Keeper of restorative justice circles with themes co-authored about accountability, conflict transformation, healing, serving community, and forgiveness. Co-taught restorative circle practices and guided participants into shared leadership. Graduates now lead their own family and community circles for conflict transformation and peace work.
Multi-faith Hospice Chaplain
Ohio's Hospice of Dayton
06.2020 - 04.2022
- PRN Chaplain: Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive care plans for hospice patients. Planned and provided outstanding end-of-life spiritual care for 300+ hospice patients, their families and loved ones, from all spiritual and religious backgrounds including secular, atheist and agnostic. Helped patients and families heal conflicts and find peace. Assisted with legacy, life review and finding meaning. Provided presence, prayer, music, ritual and ceremony as requested by patients and families. Connected patients and families with their own clergy for essential sacraments, rituals and prayers. Officiated blessings, weddings, funerals, and memorials. Advocated for countless families to receive access to their loved ones during the initial height of the global pandemic. Opened windows, held up tablets and phones, and stood-in holding hands with dying patients for those whose loved ones were denied entry.
Ministerial Intern
UUAC at First Parish in Sherborn
08.2017 - 06.2019
- Collaborated with other members of ministry team for congregation of over 350 active members: Shared responsibilities for annual operating budget and stewardship campaign, preaching, leading worship, pastoral care, lifespan faith formation & congregational administration and staff supervision. Welcomed 34 new members and taught their orientation courses. Administrated and taught "Our Whole Lives" (OWL) healthy sexuality program for 27 middle school youth. Championed additional policies & practices to co-create a Sexually Safe Congregation. Preached regularly about sexual & domestic violence to encourage awareness, prevention & healing. Held healing circles & healing rituals for survivors of sexual violence & their invited loved ones. Developed conflict transformation curricula for adult faith formation & facilitated various workshop series.
Chaplain Intern
Norwalk Hospital & New London Homeless Hospitality Center
06.2018 - 08.2018
- APCE 400-Hour Unit of Level One Clinical Pastoral Education at Level II Trauma Center in ICU and ED, as well as Homeless Shelter offering daytime services to displaced members of the community. Developed personalized intakes, spiritual assessments & reflective practices of pastoral care to over 500 multi-faith individuals and families in crisis. Lead multi-faith meditation services for hospital staff & family members of the patients.
Member Outreach Coordinator
Fiddleheads Food Co-op
05.2012 - 05.2015
- Coordinated Member-Owner services; recruited, oriented, trained, scheduled & supervised 175 Working-Owners. Initiated and coordinated 15 visits by influential persons and community groups for marketing exposure. Encouraged 9 Co-op employees to share their interests and talents in new ways during their work shifts. Doubled member-ownership & significantly increased store sales through PR & 100+ public events, workshops, lectures & demonstrations. Nurtured long-standing relationships with local farmers, producers, artisans and other small businesses. Wrote new curricula & programming to teach Member-Owners, employees & the public about Cooperative Business Model/Principles & Food Justice.
Childbirth & Lactation Educator & Doula
Self-employed
01.2006 - 12.2013
- Improved birth outcomes, parental-baby attachment, as well as family relationships and well-being for over 150 families through individual/family/group education. Taught physiological childbirth, coping skills for unexpected complications, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, gentle and parenting skills. Provided emotional & physical support for labor, childbirth & postpartum adjustment.
Counselor
The Pines Young Women's Residential Treatment Center
01.2001 - 12.2001
- Supervised recreation & daily routines for 40+ adolescents in intensive psychiatric treatment. Facilitated a calm & nurturing environment for children in crisis & away from their families.
Education
Master of Arts - The Center of Justice & Peacebuilding, RJ
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg06.2028
Master of Divinity - Theology, Interfaith Leadership, Pastoral Care
Andover Newton Theological School
Newton Center, MA05.2018
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology & Gender Studies
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM01.2000
Skills
- Research and Analysis
- Resource Allocation
- Community Outreach
- Public Relations
- Grant Writing
- Fundraising Abilities
- Program Evaluation
- Project Management
- Policy Development
- Ethical Decision Making
- Public Speaking
- Performance Measurement
Relevant Volunteer Experience
(Roles including fiduciary responsibility, donor development, fundraising and grant writing in bold.)
- Board Member, Church of the Larger Fellowship, A UU Congregation Without Walls, 2019-2022
- Mentor, Partakers College Behind Bars, 2016-2017
- Founding Administrator, The Freedom School (Democratic, Sudbury model program), 2005-2006
- Administrator & founding member of neighborhood childcare cooperative, New York, NY, 2001-2003
- Shelter Intake Counselor, My Sister's Place, DC, 2000
- Community Educator, La Casa Domestic Violence Shelter, NM, 1999-2000
- Co-Founder and facilitator, No Boundaries, Teen Dating Violence Prevention Group, NM, 1998-2000
- Grant Reviewer & Technical Assistance Consultant , Corporation for National Service, Washington, DC, 1996-2006
- Phone & Hospital Crisis Advocate & Trainer, 1995-2000, La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services of Southern NM, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Member, 2nd Class of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, CO, 1995-1996
Certification
Ordained into the Unitarian Universalist Ministry by All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation of New London, CT and the Unitarian Universalist Area Church of Sherborn, MA on
June 21, 2020
Welcomed into Preliminary Fellowship of the Unitarian Universalist Association and declared eligible for ordained ministry on December 5, 2019
Certified STAR Level One (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience)
- STAR brings together theory and practices from neurobiology, conflict transformation, human security, spirituality, and restorative justice to address the needs of trauma-impacted individuals and communities.
Timeline
Affiliated Community Minister
All Soul Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation
11.2022 - Current
Multi-faith Hospice Chaplain
Ohio's Hospice of Dayton
06.2020 - 04.2022
Associate Minister
Circles of Spirit, Re-entry Ministry for Women
01.2020 - 04.2023
Chaplain Intern
Norwalk Hospital & New London Homeless Hospitality Center
06.2018 - 08.2018
Ministerial Intern
UUAC at First Parish in Sherborn
08.2017 - 06.2019
Member Outreach Coordinator
Fiddleheads Food Co-op
05.2012 - 05.2015
Childbirth & Lactation Educator & Doula
Self-employed
01.2006 - 12.2013
Counselor
The Pines Young Women's Residential Treatment Center
01.2001 - 12.2001
Master of Arts - The Center of Justice & Peacebuilding, RJ
Eastern Mennonite University
Master of Divinity - Theology, Interfaith Leadership, Pastoral Care
Andover Newton Theological School
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology & Gender Studies
New Mexico State University
Ordained into the Unitarian Universalist Ministry by All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation of New London, CT and the Unitarian Universalist Area Church of Sherborn, MA on
June 21, 2020
Welcomed into Preliminary Fellowship of the Unitarian Universalist Association and declared eligible for ordained ministry on December 5, 2019
Certified STAR Level One (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience)
- STAR brings together theory and practices from neurobiology, conflict transformation, human security, spirituality, and restorative justice to address the needs of trauma-impacted individuals and communities.
Similar Profiles
Katherine AveryKatherine Avery
Director of Religious Education at Unitarian Universalist Congregation Of VeniceDirector of Religious Education at Unitarian Universalist Congregation Of Venice
April YaxApril Yax
Office Manager at Beacon Unitarian Universalist CongregationOffice Manager at Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Andrea MocharskiAndrea Mocharski
Event and Hospitality Manager at First Unitarian Universalist of ColumbusEvent and Hospitality Manager at First Unitarian Universalist of Columbus