Jerri brings to CitySongs a background in youth work and counseling, program management, and coalition building with diverse populations. She has a B.S. degree from Syracuse University (major in theater and minor in sociology and women's studies), an M.S.W. from the University of Chicago, and youth development practitioner certification from Harold Washington College, Chicago.
In one set of professional experiences, she has worked with arts-integration programs (creating curriculum, direct work with youth, direct work with teachers) in Chicago public schools and in Greater Chicago out-of-school youth programming. In another set of professional experiences, she has done curriculum development, direct service, training, technical assistance, supervision, and program management around issues of youth violence prevention, girls' relationships, sexual abuse survival, foster care, and teen parents involved in postsecondary education.
Jerri also has worked with NGOs in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, providing direct service to youth and staff development training in youth development. She describes herself as having the desire and enthusiasm required to work in a creativity-based , youth development setting geared toward supporting young people in recognizing their strengths and goals through the gift of music.
