Jessica Clemente

Jessica Clemente (Chief Executive Officer) majored in Environmental Science at SUNY Purchase. After graduating she served as Project Manager for the NYU School of Medicine’s “South Bronx Environmental Health and Policy Study.” The study, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and Congressman Jose E. Serrano in partnership with four local community organizations—the Point CDC, Nos Quedamos, the Sports Foundation, and Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice allowed her to work closely with researchers and community partners on the relationships between air quality and public health. This work led Jessica to pursue a Master of Urban Planning at the New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

In 2011 Ms. Clemente was asked to become the CEO of Nos Quedamos. Under Ms. Clemente’s leadership, Nos Quedamos has grown, increasing in staff and program/service diversity. Some of these accomplishments include but not limited to:

• Financial stability for Nos Quedamos which now has an operating budget in excess of $1,000,000;
  • Continued the work on sustainable affordable housing through the development of a new mixed-use residential building for seniors and families in Hunt’s Point;
  • Developed a strong relationship with arts and cultural organizations in the South Bronx that has led Nos Quedamos to be the ­fiscal sponsor for a significant grant from the Dept. of Cultural Aairs and the formation of the Bronx Cultural Collective;
  • Organizing the Melrose community gardens to form a coalition, known as the ‘Asociación de Huerto y Cultura,’ that is currently working towards 501(c)(3) status;
  • Continued the work of Nos Quedamos with the Southern Bronx Watershed Alliance in its effort to decommission and re-envision the Sheridan Expressway;
  • Increased the organization’s work in community and environmental advocacy through the following:

– voter engagement, the organizing of candidate’s forum as well as work with the Campaign Finance Board,
– board participation in the New York Environmental Justice Alliance,
– assisted in organizing the Bronx wide coalition “Build Without Displacement;”
– provided a leadership platform for the development of a major policy initiative on the development of Community Land Trusts.

Through all this work Ms. Clemente enjoys and is committed to a profound family life. With the strong support of her family, she and her husband are raising their two young children in the Bronx. As has been said, the creation of a better world that celebrates diversity and social justice begins at home.