Jesse Benet

Background

About Jesse Benet

Visionary and passionate leader who understands the hierarchy of government processes and bureaucracy and how to navigate silos and challenge systems from a social justice analyses and lens. This includes leading with and centering race with a strong intersectional grounding. Experienced working in community organizations fighting against harmful systems and understands many community organizing/activist approaches to systems change and how this juxtaposes to government processes and the structural/institutional barriers to centering those most marginalized. Supporter of change from within -and- change demanded from outside approaches; a both/and agent of change. Utilizes a harm reduction lens to approach reducing harmful, punitive and traumatic institutional responses (mass incarceration, incapacitation) to extreme poverty, racism, disability and unmet healthcare needs. Care and access to resources over punishment. Leadership approach is grounded in coming from a trauma-responsive place of responsibility and humility in my support and championing of others. Interested in building and bringing community accountability models to the work that are grounded in compassion, care for others, self-care, feedback, continuous improvement and strong boundaries - and from a Harm Reduction framework. A champion of garden and service leadership and fumbling forward (things don’t need to be perfect to be tried and valued).