About Me.
Hi!
I’m Jenn.
I bring more than two decades of experience, including ten years as a nonprofit consultant, to supporting organizations and projects that improve services and outcomes for low-income and diverse communities.
Originally from rural Eastern Oregon, I now call Vancouver, Washington home with my wonderful spouse and our two imaginative kids. In my free time I have been known to make elaborate birthday cakes, themed Halloween costumes and patchwork quilts. I propagate houseplants, act as assistant lego sorter and I’m a mediocre but joyful gardener.
These days, I run my own consulting firm, working with fantastic clients like the California Association of Food Banks, Clark College, and the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition.
Previously, I was the Executive Director at the San Diego Hunger Coalition, where I led initiatives to improve school meal access and boost CalFresh (SNAP) enrollment. Before that, I managed programs for houseless women and provided emergency services with Catholic Charities.
I hold a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Mycelium Threads Consulting
Mycelium [my-SEE-lee-uhm] threads are the hypha, or branching filaments, that make up the underground network of fungus. German forester Peter Wohlleben dubbed this network the “woodwide web,” as it is through mycelium that trees and other plants communicate and share resources. (1)
This micro-network of macro-impact has, as Adaku Utah explains, a “collective ability to channel and receive nutrients where needed, protect against parasites, and expand roots into necessary sites of growth.” (2)
When I think about the work of supporting groups to create change, I realize the power of metaphor is the best way to describe how this work looks and feels to me: small but impactful connective parts, pulling together elements that matter, conveying relevant information and resources, recognizing that the health of one is connected to the health of all, and working in abundance to support the resilience of the whole.
My understanding of how groups can work together to create change is informed by my understanding of collective liberation, human connection, emergent strategy, anti-racism, re-Indigenization, connection to nature, and grounding in the practices of love, hope, and belonging. And, the organizational support, task tracking, and facilitation that I bring can help too!
Some of my influences include:
adrienne maree brown
Wendell Berry
Mary Oliver
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
Sister Helen Prejean
Octavia E. Butler
Alok V. Menon
COVEN Tree Collective
DTA
The Jays
Kat Larson
Indigo Girls
Beautiful Chorus
ADHD instagram accounts
And innumerable relationships that have shaped me in a lifelong journey of learning liberatory practices.
What gets me excited is bringing groups together to envision a shared goal.
I love mapping out the path to achieve a vision, including timelines, deliverables, and processes. I enjoy becoming a project expert and building team capacity, ensuring everyone can contribute their expertise when it matters most. Facilitating conversations that lead to actionable steps, backed with the right energy and support, is my passion.
I thrive on collaborating with partners to develop and implement plans for reaching shared goals.
Whether it's an existing vision or one we co-create, I excel at organizing work for collaborative teams. I use tools and approaches that support neurodiverse teams, ensuring everyone can contribute effectively. Helping teams create a clear path forward and supporting them along the way is what I do best.
I have experience leading statewide administrative advocacy efforts for anti-poverty programs and developing equity events.
I've worked on expanding organizational capacity and provided direct services to low-income communities. My background also includes integrating anti-racism and DEI principles to create equity-centered pathways for accomplishing goals.
My expertise spans administrative policy advocacy, public benefits technology development, and program implementation and evaluation. I'm skilled in research methodology, grant writing, and human-centered design approaches. Anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of my work, along with project management and nonprofit operations.