Policy Analyst
Tax & Budget, Early Learning & Care
Hometown
Baltimore, Maryland
What was your favorite hobby or extracurricular activity as a child, and did you pursue it further later in life?
I sang in choirs and did solo vocal performance for about 10 years throughout my childhood. I loved musical theater, attended a magnet arts high school for singing, and even went to Opera Summer Camp. As a kid with a penchant for chatting too much, singing served as an outlet for my boundless energy. I still sing casually and am known for getting little ditties stuck in my friends' and family's heads.
What was your favorite meal or dish that your family would make, and do you still enjoy it today?
As a child and still to this day, my family loves to share a Maryland crab feast. We'll sit around our newspaper-covered kitchen table for hours picking crabs covered in Old Bay, listening to music, and catching up. It's one of the things I love most about home.
What was the most challenging experience you faced as a child, and how did you overcome it?
I always struggled in school and the environment was often a challenge for me. My middle school years even earned me the somewhat dubious distinction of being awarded the superlative "most talkative." It wasn't until community college that I found mentors who recognized and nurtured my intellectual curiosity, giving me the confidence to pursue higher education.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned as a child, and how has it influenced your life today?
As a kid, I always had the feeling of not quite fitting in. However, I was fortunate to have parents who embraced and encouraged my unique quirks, and taught me it's okay to be a little bit of a weirdo. I think being a more quirky kid naturally drew me to more unconventional and open-minded ways of thinking. Non-conformity became a core value for me, and I developed a sense of curiosity that pushed me to question existing systems. While my inquisitive nature sometimes clashed with teachers and authority figures, I have since learned to channel that energy into my work. I love to ask questions about why systems are built the way they are or why we do things a certain way. To me, a large part of the job of a policy analyst is to constantly seek ways to reshape and change systems for the better.
Biography
Jenna started her career in the Maryland State House where she helped shape legislation related to paid family and medical leave, childcare, and workplace justice. She then worked at Third Way, a public policy think tank in Washington, DC before eventually making her way to Utah where she served as a Policy AmeriCorps VISTA at Housing Connect and then as a Public Policy Fellow for YWCA Utah. Jenna is passionate about anti-poverty policy that advances equitable access to opportunity for all children and families. Jenna is a proud graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County and the University of Maryland.
