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Jessica Herman is in her 20th year with �鶹��Ƶ, serving as the Chief of Staff with �鶹��Ƶ Kansas City. In this role, Jes oversees all people work and development including hiring and onboarding, all financial and operational work at the site, and partners closely with the Executive Director on all site-wide strategic initiatives and board development.

She started as an AmeriCorps member with �鶹��Ƶ Chicago in 2005, then served as the Civic Engagement Manager—leading physical service events for volunteers across the city. In '09, Jes served as an Impact Manager for a new school as part of the Diplomas Now (DN) collaborative. She would go on to serve as the national Deputy Director for Diplomas Now, focused on building the network-wide collaborative. In ’15 she returned home to KC to help build �鶹��Ƶ's work from the ground up in her hometown. Jes is also a PROUD University of Kansas alumna twice-over—receiving her BA in sociology in ’05 and her master's degree in public administration in ’18. Recently, Jes was privileged to join the KC Chamber of Commerce Centurions Program, a leadership development initiative for KC’s rising community leaders. Jes spends her free time with her husband Ben and daughters Violet and Marigold, and they are a proud Kansas City Public Schools family.

Mariela is currently in her eleventh year with �鶹��Ƶ. She serves as the Senior People & Operations Manager for �鶹��Ƶ Kansas City. Prior to her roles on staff, Mariela served two years with �鶹��Ƶ Sacramento. Through her service as an AmeriCorps member, Mariela has been able to witness the impact �鶹��Ƶ has had on students and she wishes to continue supporting AmeriCorps in building strong relationships with students. Although not a fan of Midwest weather, Mariela has come to love Kansas City and the city's passion for service.

Tim is proud to be serving his community through his continued work with �鶹��Ƶ Kansas City. Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tim started his service with CYKC in 2019 as a First Year Student Success Coach at Northeast Highschool. He then served as a Team Leader back at Northeast Highschool during the 2021 School Year supporting the team and students through the virtual COVID-19 year. At the end of that school year, Tim got the opportunity to continue his service with CYKC as an Impact Manager at Northeast Middle School. In 2023, Tim also took on managing the team at East High School, then moving to Whittier Elementary School in 2024, as well as managing Analytics for the site. Tim is excited to bring his AmeriCorps experience as well as his previous years of Impact Manager experience to the work we do to support our students and AmeriCorps Members. Outside of work, Tim enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons, watching Lord of the Rings and Star Wars content, and spending time with his partner Monte.

A local to Kansas City, Eileen Smith is proud to serve as an Impact Manger. Prior to joining �鶹��Ƶ, Eileen spent several years working as an ELL teacher abroad. She worked at a medical nonprofit in Panama and moved back to the States in 2018. Since then, she has worked within violence prevention in Kansas City and joined the �鶹��Ƶ team in 2022. She is an alum of Missouri State where she graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work. In her spare time, she enjoys being outside, traveling and trying new coffee and pastry shops.

A local to Kansas City, Katja is serving as an Impact Manager. Before �鶹��Ƶ, Katja sported many jobs. From a pre-school teacher and Starbucks barista to a baker that ended up becoming a United Methodist Youth pastor in Columbia, MO. Although Katja has not received her bachelor’s degree, she is continuing the work to complete her associates and hoping to study social justice/equity. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. Watching historical documentaries, exploring nooks and crannies in KC and being the best auntie to her nephew.

Shelby is excited to be serving her seventh �鶹��Ƶ as Director of Learning and Coaching in the city she has spent her most formative years in. Shelby is a proud Mizzou alum and has worked in various non-profits prior to joining the CYKC team. She is a founding KC Equity Committee member and National Equity Advisory Council convener dedicated to developing anti-racist practices and advocating for inclusion that ultimately serves our students and communities. Her hope is to inspire young students, AmeriCorps members, and staff to recognize their potential through their connection and service with �鶹��Ƶ. In her spare time Shelby enjoys reading, traveling, and being a big sister to three wonderful siblings.

Rachel Ibok’s passion for the nonprofit sector can be traced back to her childhood and assisting with her father’s nonprofit, Lanell Cares International Mission. She is a proud graduate of William Jewell College, where she earned a B.A. in Nonprofit Leadership and became a Certified Nonprofit Professional. In 2019, Rachel earned a Certification in Volunteer Administration.  She became an Advanced Certified Nonprofit Professional in 2023.

An AmeriCorps alum, Rachel takes pride in inspiring people to positively impact their community. She serves as the Community Partnerships Manager at �鶹��Ƶ Kansas City, where she provides opportunities for 18–25-year-olds to contribute to the fight for education equity while investing in their own futures.

She is a lifelong learner who loves to share knowledge. As an accomplished speaker, she has spoken at the Volunteer Management Institute and appeared on panels and podcasts on topics ranging from risk management to food equity. 

In her free time, Rachel loves to read anything except romance and thrillers. She writes poetry and is working on her first novel.