Jessica L. Adams, MAPS, MSW
__________________________________________________________________
4031 Parker Ave. St Louis,MO
Summary
Driven, solutions-focused, passionate, and experienced leader skilled in grasstops community organizing, legislative advocacy, policy analysis, and policy education with diverse stakeholders. Strong ability to identify and operationalize innovative solutions to complex problems in a fast-paced and high-stakes environment. Demonstrating proven success in policy change initiatives at the local, state, and national levels and bringing strengths in public speaking, strategic outcomes planning, and strategic relationship building.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Outreach Contractor
USCCB Synod Implementation Team
Remote, Remote
2022.01 - Current
- Collaborate with USCCB staff team in the management and leadership of Synodal process in the United States, including meeting, communication, and process planning.
- Created and implemented data collection system for Diocesan Synod Coordinator feedback, Diocesan Synod synthesis submission and Regional drafting team feedback and synthesis submission.
- Drafted "Region XVI" synthesis for Religious Communities to be included in US Continental Synthesis.
- Worked with organizational leaders to provide support for "Region XVI", non-diocesan organizations in the synodal listening and synthesis drafting processes.
- Attend all USCCB Synod Implementation team meetings, actively providing feedback, reflection, and insight for national coordination of Synodal process.
Part-Time Family Faith Formation Coordinator
St. Vincent DePaul Parish
Saint Louis, MO
2022.05 - Current
- Manage and direct all aspects of faith formation programming for families and children in the parish, including sacramental preparation, vacation Bible school, academic year Family Faith Formation, and volunteer catechist recruitment and training.
- Serve as first point of contact for new and existing families in the parish and as a connection point between family life and parish life.
- Establish standard operating procedures for Family Faith Formation office, including, communication and relationship building planning, strategic planning, and annual calendar.
- Collaborate with parish staff team to ensure alignment between Family Faith Formation and overall parish mission, vision, and goals.
Coordinator of Enrollment Management
Aquinas Institute Of Theology
Saint Louis, MO
07.2020 - 05.2022
- Direct all aspects of recruitment, admissions, and student services functions of the Institution in accordance with organizational values & goals and within budgetary guidelines.
- Engage in research informed practice - using institution specific data and data from fields of Graduate Enrollment Management and Graduate Theological Education to optimize organizational policymaking efforts.
- Increased admissions over 80% with improved promotional approaches, outreach & relationship building strategies, and student engagement plans.
- Skillfully manage all department staff, yielding increases in employee engagement and productivity.
- Facilitate active student participation in institutional planning and decision making processes, garnering significant increases in student engagement and satisfaction.
Founder & Executive Director
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank
Saint Louis, MO
04.2014 - 04.2020
- Established and operated mission driven non-profit organization designed to provide diapers to low-income families in the St. Louis region.
- Achieved multiple state-level policy changes including a tax-credit for Diaper Bank donors, budget appropriation for diapers, inclusion of diapers in state sales tax holiday, and provision of free period products to MO DOC inmates through legislative advocacy and education at the local and state levels.
- Represented the Diaper Bank and its programs in collaborative groups, committees, associations, and coalitions working to achieve local, state, and national level policy change.
- Led organization from $0 to $1M+ in revenue, increased diaper distribution partnerships from 0 to 50+, and diaper distribution from 0 to 2M+ annually through strategic deployment of community and legislative engagement initiatives.
- Managed and tracked recruitment and training, stewardship, and retention of all volunteers, supporters, donors, and staff - ensuring that all were imbued with and invested in the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
- Created period product distribution program with 100,000+ unit distribution in its first year.
Adjunct Professor
Saint Louis University, MSW Program
Saint Louis, MO
06.2016 - 05.2018
- Organized, prepared and revised Policy Practice for Social Justice course syllabus, lesson plans, and course material to achieve student-centered learning.
- Deployed variety of learning modalities and pedagogical tools as I accompanied MSW students through the process of creating and managing a policy change initiative.
- Encouraged class discussions by building discussions into lessons, actively soliciting input, asking open-ended questions and using techniques to track student participation.
- Leveraged relationships with policy-makers, community activists, and non-profit leaders to enhance course material with presentations from guest speakers actively working in policy practice.
Outreach Coordinator & Policy Analyst
Missouri Budget Project
Saint Louis, MO
01.2012 - 01.2016
- Conducted outreach to state lawmakers, public officials, partner organizations and other key stakeholders including preparing and providing presentations and developing and delivering legislative testimony.
- Researched complex fiscal and tax policy issues and prepared policy analyses, fact sheets, and other presentations on critical, timely state legislative issues.
- Conducted coalition building including strategic planning, development and facilitation of social action campaigns, workgroup and meeting facilitation.
- Developed long-lasting partnerships with local and state leaders, management team and colleagues through active engagement, exemplary communication and sharing of consistently accurate information.
- Collected and analyzed feedback from diverse stakeholders to develop and strengthen strategy.
Education
Master of Social Work - Community & Organization Concentration
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO 08.2011 - 05.2013
Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies -
Aquinas Institute of Theology
Saint Louis, MO 08.2011 - 05.2013
Skills
Public Speaking
Policy Design
Strategic Planning
Community Engagement
Strategic Relationship Management
Meeting Facilitation
Project Management
Accomplishments
- St. Louis Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2019
- St. Louis American, Health Care Advocacy Organization of the Year, 2019
- FOCUS St. Louis, Leadership St. Louis, 2018-19
- FOCUS St. Louis, What's Right with the Region, 2018
Timeline
Part-Time Family Faith Formation Coordinator
St. Vincent DePaul Parish
2022.05 - Current
Outreach Contractor
USCCB Synod Implementation Team
2022.01 - Current
Coordinator of Enrollment Management
Aquinas Institute Of Theology
07.2020 - 05.2022
Adjunct Professor
Saint Louis University, MSW Program
06.2016 - 05.2018
Founder & Executive Director
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank
04.2014 - 04.2020
Outreach Coordinator & Policy Analyst
Missouri Budget Project
01.2012 - 01.2016
Master of Social Work - Community & Organization Concentration
Saint Louis University
08.2011 - 05.2013
Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies -
Aquinas Institute of Theology
08.2011 - 05.2013