IPMW Staff
Jennifer C. Jackson, Executive Director. Jennifer has held leadership positions in several North Carolina and New York City nonprofits over the past 26 years in the areas of the arts, community development, victim services, human rights, and spiritual activism. Prior organizations include Safe Horizon, where she served in senior leadership roles including Vice President for Human Resources, after directing Joining Forces, a project on Public-Private Partnerships in Victim Assistance funded by the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. She has worked as an organizational development consultant, coach and trainer for nonprofits and groups across the country, and as a facilitator and presenter for conferences including the NC Center for Nonprofits Annual Conference.
Jennifer believes deeply in the power of forgiveness to transform hearts and minds and is committed to work that creates a more inclusive and just society. She is on the Board of Student Action With Farmworkers (SAF), and is a member of the 2019/2020 Omega Institute Juno Leadership Collective. She has served on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation’s Community Leadership Council, the Oberlin College Alumni Leadership Council, the Pickard’s Mountain Eco-Institute's Advisory Council, and the NCCIW Raleigh Unit’s Community Resource Council. Jennifer received undergraduate degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, her master’s degree from Indiana University, and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. She enjoys reading, the arts and performing in local theater, and is an avid meditation and yoga practitioner.
Jennifer believes deeply in the power of forgiveness to transform hearts and minds and is committed to work that creates a more inclusive and just society. She is on the Board of Student Action With Farmworkers (SAF), and is a member of the 2019/2020 Omega Institute Juno Leadership Collective. She has served on the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation’s Community Leadership Council, the Oberlin College Alumni Leadership Council, the Pickard’s Mountain Eco-Institute's Advisory Council, and the NCCIW Raleigh Unit’s Community Resource Council. Jennifer received undergraduate degrees from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, her master’s degree from Indiana University, and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York City. She enjoys reading, the arts and performing in local theater, and is an avid meditation and yoga practitioner.
Shanae Artis, Transition and Reentry Manager. Shanae is a graduate of Bryant & Stratton Community College. Since relocating to North Carolina in 2014, she has been actively working with non-profit organizations such as Dress for Success to teach women how to become self-sufficient. Shanae brings her experience in leadership, creating curricula and building partnerships to the IPMW team. Shanae grew up in New York and is a member of the Christian church. She enjoys reading, singing and spending time with her daughter.
Shelda Askew, Peer Support Specialist/Case Manager. Shelda is certified to assist others in their journeys of recovery by providing a role model of self-care and the effective use of recovery skills. She received her Peer Support Specialist training from Behavioral Health Springboard School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina and has been a training consultant and facilitator since 2017. Shelda specializes in connecting or reconnecting people to their communities, to themselves, and to meaning and purpose in life through individual and group support. She has provided consultation and training to state and local mental health agencies and community-based organizations and is a certified WRAP facilitator. As a Peer Support Specialist trainer she facilitates Peer Support groups in the areas of women’s issues and trauma issues.
Shelda is an active public speaker, advocating for people to have fulfilled lives through self-direction. Her compassionate and understanding approach grew from her own personal recovery journey, which she has been on since 2000. Her passion is to enable one peer to help another through the skills of connecting, empowering, and revitalizing.
Shelda is an active public speaker, advocating for people to have fulfilled lives through self-direction. Her compassionate and understanding approach grew from her own personal recovery journey, which she has been on since 2000. Her passion is to enable one peer to help another through the skills of connecting, empowering, and revitalizing.
Tonita Few, Development Director. A sixteen-year non-profit professional, Tonita’s development experience includes roles as Director of Stewardship, Regional Gift Officer, Special Assistant to the Vice-President of Development and Grant Writer. As the Development Director for IPMW, Tonita leads in the creation and execution of a philanthropic vision of sustainable fundraising initiatives. She has a heart for the women IPMW serves and believes that they should be given a second chance at rebuilding their lives and families.
Tonita graduated from Strayer University in 2009 with her Bachelor of Science in Business Management. A passionate reader and writer of transparencies and truths, she believes in the power of storytelling towards healing and wholeness. She is a former co-founder of SoulXpressions, a local spoken word performance group. Tonita is also the creative behind My Life Story, an artistic platform for people to share on their healing journey from traumatic life experiences. Committed to community, Tonita volunteers as a Co-Partner with StepUP Ministry. She is also a member of the Capital City Steppers, a Raleigh based social dance group, where she serves as fundraiser and scholarship coordinator. Tonita loves relaxing in her front porch rockers during the warm seasons of the year.
Tonita graduated from Strayer University in 2009 with her Bachelor of Science in Business Management. A passionate reader and writer of transparencies and truths, she believes in the power of storytelling towards healing and wholeness. She is a former co-founder of SoulXpressions, a local spoken word performance group. Tonita is also the creative behind My Life Story, an artistic platform for people to share on their healing journey from traumatic life experiences. Committed to community, Tonita volunteers as a Co-Partner with StepUP Ministry. She is also a member of the Capital City Steppers, a Raleigh based social dance group, where she serves as fundraiser and scholarship coordinator. Tonita loves relaxing in her front porch rockers during the warm seasons of the year.
Sarah Jobe, Senior Chaplain. Rev. Jobe is an ordained Baptist minister. She studied religious studies at the University of Virginia, received her Master’s in Divinity from Duke University Divinity School, and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in practical theology from Duke University Divinity School. Sarah has served as a chaplain at the NCCIW Raleigh Unit since 2011, and she has taught theology courses there since 2009.
Sarah is passionate about creating pathways toward success for incarcerated people, and she has served on a nation-wide study through the Association of Theological Schools and a state-wide NCDPS Commission on Post-Secondary Education in Prison, both commissions that are dedicated to advancing opportunities for incarcerated people to pursue their educational goals. Sarah serves on the Advisory Committee of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab and the Professional Advisory Group of the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at the Durham VA. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Durham where she gardens in her spare time (her garden is in the shape of a labyrinth in honor of a project that she did with women at the Raleigh Unit creating canvas labyrinths still used in the Hope Center!) Sarah is the author of Creating with God: The Holy Confusing Blessedness of Pregnancy.
Sarah is passionate about creating pathways toward success for incarcerated people, and she has served on a nation-wide study through the Association of Theological Schools and a state-wide NCDPS Commission on Post-Secondary Education in Prison, both commissions that are dedicated to advancing opportunities for incarcerated people to pursue their educational goals. Sarah serves on the Advisory Committee of the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab and the Professional Advisory Group of the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at the Durham VA. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Durham where she gardens in her spare time (her garden is in the shape of a labyrinth in honor of a project that she did with women at the Raleigh Unit creating canvas labyrinths still used in the Hope Center!) Sarah is the author of Creating with God: The Holy Confusing Blessedness of Pregnancy.
Cherisse Kendrick, Bookkeeping Assistant. Cherisse has been working with non-profit organizations since graduating from Frostburg State University with a BS in Business Administration. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Cherisse's prior employment included serving the underserved communities in a healthcare setting. She is excited to have found a ministry since relocating to North Carolina, where she can continue to helping others in need. In her spare time, she enjoys her role of caring for and spending time with her family, volunteering at her childrens' schools through PTA, watching movies and attending functions at her church.
Meredith Rawls, Social Work Intern. Meredith is a MSW/MDiv dual degree student in her final year of studies at Duke Divinity School and UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work. She is extremely passionate about the intersection of faith and justice. She is deeply committed to the work of Christian Community Development and loves accompanying women on a journey of restoration, healing, and finding their place within their community. Meredith is a lover of fall, being outside, eating ice cream, and spending time with her partner Bill and her best dog friend Yogi. She is humbled and excited to be a part of the IPMW team and the transformative work of this organization!
Leanne Wells, Office Manager. Leanne is a graduate of Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. She has a B.A. in Human Development, minoring in Early Childhood Education and Development, with an overarching focus in social change, anti-bias approach, and advocacy. She has worked as a home visitor with Head Start, been a recruiter in the childcare industry, and worked in the daycare on SAS Campus in Cary, NC.
She is excited to be a part of Interfaith Prison Ministry for Women and continuing her passion of supporting others as they work to strengthen, grow, and thrive in their communities. She loves to read, and among her favorite authors are: Dr. Clarisa Pinkola Estes, Myles Horton, and E.L. Konigsburg. She has four children, and enjoys being outside, painting, drawing and writing, and is a budding stained glass artist. |