Jai Jones

Jaquanda ‘Jai’ Jones is the project specialist for the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities.

She oversees the strategy and dissemination of the $1.5M Chicago Fund. In her role, she drives community connection and public safety initiatives that work in tandem with the Trust’s mission to close the wealth and racial equity gap. Jai manages a portfolio of 200 grassroots organizations across 24 of Chicago’s most disinvested communities, helping strategize and uplift hyperlocal solutions as a deterrence to violence. She has almost a decade of experience working in the social impact sector.

Prior to The Trust, she was the Engagement Specialist at Austin Coming Together. There, she led the Engagement Team, helped to grow the grassroots advocacy footprint mobilizing community-led responses to COVID-19, public safety, and economic development.

Jai is motivated by an unyielding belief that equity is a human rights’ issue and belongs to everyone, regardless of race, socioeconomic background or geography. Her faith is the driving force of her work, helping to bring equitable solutions to those who need it most.