A Note from Jen

I grew up as a suburban kid in Battle Creek, the daughter of a pre-school teacher and a warehouse supervisor. My parents are honest hard-working people who taught me the progressive values and faith that guide my life. My dad served as a volunteer firefighter and in the civilian air patrol and my mom was on every committee from PTA to Neighborhood Watch. They spent their extra time and efforts into making our community better. And they showed me that when we support one another we are our best selves. 

I came to Kalamazoo in 1997 looking for my way in life. Here I began my work with adults with developmental disabilities and found deep purpose in supporting our most vulnerable community members to live out fulfilling lives. It is humble work, not prestigious in status or pay, but one of sacrifice and love for others. I have spent years protecting the vulnerable, empowering them to determine their own futures, and I have advocated for them to be valued as full members of our community. 

I continue in that as a working mother of two. I am raising a teen and toddler who fill my life with challenge and joy. I am fighting for the future world they will live in. The future all of the children deserve to live in. A future where systems of racist oppression are dismantled and everyone as a real opportunity to live into their potential. A future where we create sustainable economic growth that doesn’t demand we make a choice between providing for our families or having a planet that is habitable. A future where healthcare is a right afforded to everyone in America. 

Over the past few years I began to focus more earnestly on organizing our community members into action and expecting our local elected officials to be accountable to the people and to bring results. Realizing that waiting for someone else to make change was no longer acceptable. I sought appointment and then was elected as a Trustee in Kalamazoo Township where I served for 3 years, and then I went on to win election to the Kalamazoo County Commission in 2021. It has been an honor to serve this community.  

America is in a crisis of conscience. I won’t accept the premise that solutions to big problems cannot be found. I refuse to submit that the promise of our democracy will be left unfulfilled. And I will not stand by and watch Black and Brown members of our communities continue to have their concerns ignored. This work is just beginning and I am ready to Keep it Moving Forward!

Jen is a summa cum laude graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in both American Public Policy and Psychology. She is a Clinical Quality Specialist, Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional, and Qualified Mental Health Professional at Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Continuum of Care, Kalamazoo County Environmental Health Advisory Council, the County ID Advisory Board, Kalamazoo County Metropolitan Planning Commission, Kalamazoo County Fair Council, Kalamazoo County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, and she Chairs the Kalamazoo County Board Appointments committee.

She has previously served on the Kalamazoo Township Election Commission, the Public Transit Human Services Committee, the Regional Water and Waster Water Commission, the Board of Directors for Public Media Network, served as Chair of the Bronson Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Council, and the Chair of the County ID Taskforce Finance Subcommittee. She has also volunteered her time with many other organizations and causes. Jen has been an involved activist for nearly 20 years supporting Democratic candidates and progressive initiatives. She has helped build several grassroots organizations to bring people into an active role in their democracy. 

Jen lives in the Westwood neighborhood in Kalamazoo Township, she loves to spend time with her children Jude and Olive. She enjoys singing (badly) and dancing whenever there is the chance. She loves being near trees, reading, or baking something delicious in her “downtime.”