Building a new world takes courage. Let’s build it together.
I am a dreamer, visioning strategist, policy analyst, sociologist, educator, and loyal collaborator.
I have witnessed ordinary people, collectively work together, to achieve extraordinary social change.
My Approach:
“Transformation of the world implies a dialectic between the two actions: denouncing the process of dehumanization and announcing the dream of a new society.”
This powerful quote by educator and philosopher Paolo Freire has guided much of my leadership experiences and impactful projects in the social sector.
From guiding policy advocacy campaigns, to developing leadership programs for educators and government leaders to move research into new practices, and also providing training services for the implementation of a presidential executive order to guide policy and practice shifts by U.S. federal agencies, I have witnessed social change leaders move from research to action in addressing social inequality and moving toward creating institutions centered around true equality and justice.
As I approach this work, I lead with values around collaboration and curiosity and a belief that it is truly possible to change the world.
Let’s work together on your social change vision and plans for implementation.
My Background:
Jennifer Godinez is a visioning strategist, social policy analyst, researcher, and leadership development consultant. She has over twenty years' experience in education and training on racial justice and public policy analysis with education, state, and national government leaders.
She served as Senior Director of Training and Education for a federal strategies team at Race Forward training hundreds of civil servants from federal agencies such as the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and FEMA, along with many more.
When co-leading the statewide organization, Minnesota organization, Minnesota Education Equity Partnership, she led strategic planning and visioning sessions with communities, educators and policymakers - guiding several communities to shift their policies and practices around an education equity framework.
She has led key initiatives that incorporate research, public policy advocacy, leadership training, and community engagement for social policy impact. Given her expertise, she was asked in 2020 to be part of an invited advisory for Minnesota Governor Walz’s Education Roundtable, providing key recommendations on education equity in the state after the uprisings of that year.
She holds a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota, a Sociology B.A. from Drake University, participated in the PPIA Policy Institute at Princeton University, and was a White House Fellow regional finalist in 2015.
CHECK OUT THE ORGANIZATIONS,
NETWORKS AND ADVISORIES I HAVE WORKED WITH:
Nonprofit organizations in the Twin Cities: La Escuelita, Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network (MIFN), El Colegio Charter School: 2000-2005, and the Minnesota Education Equity Partnership – 2006 to 2022.
Impactful Learning Networks for Education Change: Minnesota College Access Network (MCAN), Solutions Not Suspensions, Race Equity and Excellence in Education Network (REEEN): 2008-2022.
Historic Initiatives with Federal Public Policy:Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity (FIRE).
International and State Policy Advisories: Participation as a leader in a global cohort with the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF 2008) program, leader invited to an educators summit in Mexico (2009), and served as an invited advisor on the “Due North” education roundtable - invitation by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, following the death of George Floyd and racial uprisings.