jess solomon
Jessica T. Solomon is being her outlandish dream partnering with fellow artists, social entrepreneurs, arts organizations and creative businesses to build their capacity and increase effectiveness.
| Headline: | Entrepreneur |
| Work status: | Employed Full-Time |
| Website: | http://www.sparkcreativity.info |
| Industries: | Education, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle, Media, Travel |
| Skills: | Business, Entrepreneurship, Event planning, Languages, Leadership, Management, Public Relations, Public speaking, Recruitment, Writing |
| Next step: | I am actively building a client base of mission-based organizations in the creative sector.
Creative Sector - one of the nation’s broadest, most important, and least understood social and economic assets, encompassing both nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, for-profit creative companies, such as advertising agencies, film producers, and commercial publishers, and community-based artistic activities. |
| Groups: | Global Entrepreneurship Week |
| Visas: | United States, Ghana |
| Interested in: | Advising startups, Brainstorming, Consulting opportunities, Finding business partners, Investing in projects, Learning about entrepreneurship, Offering Expertise, Partnering with other groups, Professional opportunities, Providing services to startups, Sharing my projects |
| Schools: | American University, University of Maryland System |
FULL BIO
Jessica (M.S., Organization Development) lives for working collaboratively with fellow cultural creatives and is on a journey to deepen the connection between art and social change. She brings her multiple identities as an organization development practitioner and community artist to her work in the world.
As a community artist she founded The Saartjie Project, an ensemble theatre company exploring race, gender and power. She is invested in the ways art functions within the public arena, specifically in the realms of: community development, education, and cultural citizenship. Through Spark Creativity Consulting, LLC Jessica partners with individuals and groups to increase their effectiveness and impact – combining her formal training with use of self.
From a birdseye view, her work/life has orbited around program development, organization development, arts administration and community engagement. For the last eight years Jessica has operated in the national non-profit arena in various capacities - from intern to grant writer to director and back to intern again. She is also a student of Reiki, West African drumming and French.
Jessica holds a B.A. in African American Studies and Communication Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and a M.S. in Organization Development from American University.
PAST PRESENTATIONS
Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed International Conference
Visions in Feminism, American University
Capital Fringe Festival Training Factory
Fem2.0 Conference
Social Action Leadership Activist School, Institute for Policy Studies
University of Aberdeen, Scotland
AWARDS
Emerging Artist, Lincoln Theatre Playwrights Competition
2009-2010 Young Artist Grant, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
2009 Hal Kellner Award for Social Justice, American University
2007 StartingBloc for Social Innovation Fellow, London Business School
Finalist, 2006 MTV ‘Alive at 25’ Media contest
WORK EXPERIENCE
| Employer: | The Saartjie Project |
| Position: | Founding Producer and Artistic Director |
| Time period: | January 2007 - Present |
| Description: | Maintains the artistic direction of the company.
Oversees casting, staging of theatre productions, and season calendar. Recruits and hires directors, choreographers and support staff. Developed and maintains website, organizational budget and conference proposals. Secured grants from the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Recognized by the Lincoln Theater and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities as an “Emerging Artist”. |
| Employer: | Teach for America |
| Position: | Operations Coordinator |
| Time period: | January 2004 - Present |
| Description: | Implemented and maintained operational systems that helped streamline Summer Institute course catalog offerings.
• Coordinated professional development seminars for approximately 350 corps members. • Coordinated innovative large-scale events. |
| Employer: | Higher Achievement Program |
| Position: | Manager of School Placement |
| Time period: | January 2008 - December 2009 |
| Description: | Developed and executed activities that facilitated top high school placement for 89% of 8th grade scholars.
Designed and led parent workshops focused on navigating the high school application process. Managed data systems to track scholar applications and placement activities. Built and stewarded relationships with educational institutions and high school support partners. Coordinated High School fair, first annual 8th grade retreat and parent conferences. |
| Employer: | The Washington Scholarship Fund |
| Position: | Manager |
| Time period: | January 2007 - December 2008 |
| Description: | Directed WSF’s first parent-led grassroots campaign.
Developed and implemented communications strategy to engage elected officials and community leaders in campaign efforts. Initiated and maintained strategic partnerships with D.C. community-based organizations. Led advocacy trainings for 1500 families and 70 school leaders. |
| Employer: | Trinity (Washington) University |
| Position: | Admissions Recruiter |
| Time period: | January 2006 - December 2007 |
| Description: | Implemented recruitment strategy targeting area high schools and colleges.
Served as Admissions/campus liaison - planned, and executed special projects with community partners. Reviewed admission applications, evaluated academic credentials, and made admission and scholarship decisions. Evaluated program effectiveness, assessed outcomes, and developed improved programming to achieve goals. Advised students on admission requirements, transfer guidelines, financial aid and scholarship information. |
| Employer: | College Summit |
| Position: | Executive Assistant & Program Services Associate |
| Time period: | January 2004 - December 2007 |
| Description: | Coordinated and executed national search for Vice President of Sites and two regional Executive Directors.
Coordinated inaugural training program for entry-level development staff. Created and coordinated summer fellowship program for College Summit Alumni. Provided administrative support to the CEO and Vice President of Growth Strategy and Development. Recognized as an organizational top performer in 2006; recipient of Good to Great award. Supported national program team towards delivering results in 6 sites. Facilitated youth workshops on the college application process. Recruited, interviewed and trained approximately 100 workshop volunteers. Created marketing materials for college partners. Created an orientation guide for College Summit High School Coordinators. |
EDUCATION
| University: | American University |
| Time period: | 2007 - 2009 |
| Degree: | Organization Development, MSc |
| University: | University of Maryland System |
| Time period: | 2004 |
| Degree: | Communication Studies and African American Studies, BA |
INFORMATION
| Clubs: | Teach for America, A national corps of college graduates (Operations Coordinator)
INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE (Chair) StartingBloc (StartingBloc Fellow) Habitat for Humanity International (Global Village Volunteer and Team Leader) |
| Memberships: | Organization Development Network
Advocates for the Arts, Pedagogy & Theatre of the Oppressed, AU/NTL Alumni Association, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. |
jess' Startups (1)
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Spark Creativity
A fresh consultancy fostering organization development & capacity building in the creative sector.
jess is Following (3)
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GEN ART
Gen Art is an arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists
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Creative Artists Agency
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is an entertainment and sports agency based in Los Angeles
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jess' Contacts (1)
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Yeabsi Mehari
hoping to end socio-economic disparities in developing nations