Jennifer O. Leshnower is a civic strategist with deep experience advancing equity, service, and democracy through public sector innovation, community building, and interfaith collaboration. Most recently, she served as the inaugural Bridging & Democracy Advisor at AmeriCorps. Jen advised and collaborated with agency leadership on the intentional integration of bridging, belonging, and democracy practices into strategic communications, partnership development, and program design. Jen served as a liaison between AmeriCorps and the White House Faith Based & Neighborhood Partnerships Office on key initiatives, including national strategies to counter Anti Semitism and Islamophobia delivered under the Biden-Harris Administration.

Previously, Jen served in senior roles at California Volunteers in the Office of the Governor, leading statewide COVID volunteer initiatives and launching the first College Corps Fellow Experience for over 3,000 students. Her career spans two decades of mission-driven work at organizations including love.fútbol, KaBOOM!, and Rebuilding Together San Francisco, where she led grassroots, community-centered infrastructure and volunteer-powered programs in the US and abroad.

A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and AmeriCorps VISTA alum, Jen holds dual masters degrees in Social Work and Public Administration from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from William Smith College.

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