Community Service

Jennifer has dedicated her career to community service as a professional urban planner and consultant in local environmental, economic, and community development issues. In her work and as a volunteer, she has worked extensively on community revitalization and adaptive reuse of historic places, cities and sites, waterfronts, downtowns, and cultural institutions in the United States and abroad. A major focus of this work is civic engagement to foster an environment of respectful discussion, advocacy and informed decision-making.

She works with numerous community leaders, municipalities, non-profit organizations and private developers on sustainable, community-driven development projects. 

Jennifer is also a regular lecturer for undergraduate and education in environmental and urban studies, including 4 years at Bard College. 

Current and Recent Community Service

• Executive board member of New York State’s Hudson River Valley Greenway Conservance, appointed as member-at-large by the New York State Assembly (2013-present).
• Member of the New York State Council on the Arts Regional Economic Development Advisory Panel (2015-2018), appointed by Governor Cuomo.
• Was the Planning and Policy Advisor to KingstonCitizens.org since its founding in 2007.
• Founding member and board member of Re>Think Local, a regional organization funded by the Local Economies Project of the New World Foundation committed to supporting sustainable local business development.
• Served for 3 years on board of Temple Emanuel in Kingston (2012-2014).
• Served for 3 years on Kingston Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission (2013-2016).
• Was appointed by Mayor Gallo in 2013 to Kingston Tidal Waterfront Flooding Task Force.
• Served on Kingston Climate Action Task Force for 2 years (2013-2014).
• Has organized and led a number of community forums with businesses and residents to hear their ideas about community development.
• Is an Advisory Board member of the Kingston Land Trust and an active volunteer on Kingston Rail Trail Committee. 
• Created a scholarship fund through the Ulster County Community Foundation for the Kingston Library, now in its 10th year. Recipients are under-served college-bound seniors at Kingston High School.
• Brought the Bard College Clemente Humanities program to the Kingston Library that provides free college courses to lower income adults, now in its 5th year.
• Led a delegation of educators to Albany in a dialogue with the State Education Commission in 2012 as volunteer for the Alliance for Quality Education.