Jennifer has been a resident of Baltimore County since 2012 but before making the Old Line State her home, Jennifer grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. Her grandparents were a part of The Great Migration and the first African-American family that settled in Novi in the early 1950s. Jennifer and her mother both graduated from Novi Public Schools. She graduated from James Madison College and the Honors College at Michigan State University and the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. 

 

A resident of Owings Mills, she has worked in the non-profit sector protecting civil rights, advocating for public health and supporting community-based organizations.  As a public health professional she has supported issue advocacy campaigns across the country and in Maryland that have improved early care and education standards, school nutrition, securing biking and walking, complete streets policies and tobacco prevention. For the last two years, Jennifer has served as a policy and community engagement officer at the Horizon Foundation in Howard County.

     

Jennifer was raised by her loving mother, step father and grandparents who centered faith, hope, and joy in her life. As a music educator in Detroit Public Schools and active member of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, her mother taught her first hand the power of the collective voice to demand for better conditions and benefits.  Moments like this have fueled her desire to advocate for policies that eliminate barriers, increase access and improve overall quality of life. 

 

Having worked in Congressional offices, advocating for public health policy and consistently serving her community - she understands how policy shapes our lives and the importance of creating systems that work for everyone. 

 

Jennifer is an active member of the Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She also serves the Legislative Affairs Chair of the Patapsco River (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. 

 

As a woman of faith, Jennifer is a member of Douglas Memorial Community Church and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Currently, Jennifer uses her public health and philanthropic expertise to serve on the Upton/Druid Heights Strengthening Families Coalition, which is mobilizing the community to prevent youth substance use. 

 

She is a graduate of Emerge Maryland, a prestigious political training program for Democratic women and is proud to be part of a distinguished network of women who serve in public office across Maryland. 

 

Jennifer has been honored by the Daily Record as the 2013’s 20 in Their Twenties award, recognizing Marylanders under 30 working to help Maryland grow, and was named as one of the Daily Record’s 2017 Leading Women, based on her professional experience, community involvement and inspiring community change.