Executive Director
With nearly 25 years committed to youth and community development Tessa continues to listen, learn, and seek new ways to best address the inequity of opportunity impacting young adults in under resourced communities. Having spent her career in alternative education and nonprofit program management; working with organizations such as Student Conservation Association, Girl Guides of Jamaica, oneLondon Ltd; she has witnessed the beauty of young people seizing the chance to engage with their learning and to be inspired to reach for their dreams. A Coro Youth Development Fellow and a Return Peace Corps Volunteer, Tessa brings an academic understanding and real-world experience of how systemic racism impacts people and their ability to live their best life. By continuing to create and support relevant education and training programs Tessa believes we can make a difference in the lives of young people and their families while also addressing our biased systems. With each Civicorps graduation or job placement, Tessa is reminded of activist, Tarana Burke’s quote “Inherently, having privilege isn’t bad, but it’s how you use it, and you have to use it in service of other people.”
“While at Civicorps I have learned that we all deserve a safe space to learn, grow, and connect with others who believe in the power of our dreams.”