Audrey Jones is a community researcher, woodworker, and yoga practitioner whose work bridges public policy, economic development, and creative practice. She completed her AmeriCorps Public Allies term with the City of Indianapolis, where she led the development of the Indianapolis Food Equity Plan—designing and executing a novel community-based research project that engaged more than 150 stakeholders to build collective consensus in the food ecosystem, and then shape a local government agency more responsive collective needs. Her work centers on building systems and institutions that advance equity, community wealth, and community self-direction.

Fluent in Spanish and self-taught in Italian, Audrey values cross-cultural connection and lifelong learning. She has taught workshops and mentored youth and professionals on topics ranging from health equity to nonprofit program development and evaluation. This year, she will take her first carpentry classes, with the goal of one day building affordable housing on community land trusts. 

An avid cyclist and enthusiastic pedestrian, Audrey sees mobility, design, and infrastructure as deeply interconnected with social and economic justice. Across disciplines, she is committed to imagining systems for more just, creative, and connected futures, work she intends to deepen through future doctoral studies and continued community collaboration.