MEET JESSICA
Jessica González-Rojas is a life-long activist and change-maker. Jessica is a nationally-recognized expert on health care reform, gender and racial justice. She has a deep understanding of building coalitions on both the grassroots level and within institutions of power.
As the daughter of an immigrant father from Paraguay and a Puerto Rican mother, Jessica is a fierce advocate for people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQIA+ communities. A resident in our community since 1999, Jessica understands that the strength of our Queens community is in its diversity, and holds an unwavering commitment to progressive values. Which is why she has also worked in the fields of disability rights, higher education, and veteran’s health.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE.
“Our communities have an innate power that comes from decades of standing strong, organizing and “echando pa’lante.”
— Jessica González-Rojas
Jessica was on the founding board of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), a Queens-based immigrant rights organization and a founding member of Jackson Heights' New Visions Democratic Club. She has served in leadership of many local advocacy efforts, including the New York City Transit Riders Council and the New York City Young Women's Initiative. For the past 13 years, Jessica has led a national organization dedicated to expanding healthcare access, building Latinx power, and advancing reproductive justice. Jessica was also an adjunct professor at CUNY City College and NYU Wagner School of Public Service.
A Brief History of Jessica González-Rojas
Born in Queens
Jessica is the the daughter of an immigrant father from Paraguay and a Puerto Rican mother.
Graduated from Boston University
Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and graduated cum laude.
Lived in Woodside and ThEN Jackson Heights since 1999
Jessica and her partner Danny moved into our community shortly after graduating college to build a life together and raise a family.
President and founding board MEMBER of NICE
New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) is a Jackson Heights-based immigrant rights organization, founded in 1999, dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and precarious immigrant workers in New York, with a focus on day laborers, domestic workers, and newly arrived immigrants. NICE offer an extensive set of services, community organizing, and leadership development programs.
Advocate for Veterans and People with Disabilities
Jessica worked as a Regional Advocate for the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA) where she advocated for improved MTA bus and subway service for people with disabilities and fought for adequate funding for veteran's health programs for our disabled veterans.
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY
Masters degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, with a concentration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Public Policy.
Elected as Democratic State Committeewoman
In 2002, Jessica ran as an insurgent, against the party bosses, to become the first Latina elected in the Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Woodside community to represent the community in the Democratic Party.
New Visions Democratic Club CO-Founder
In 2003, Jessica was a founding member of the New Visions Democratic Club, along with Daniel Dromm, to bring new voices into the Democratic Party on the local level. The club made history when they expanded participation to include undocumented immigrants to be members.
Helped Organize the Immigrant Workers Freedom March
In 2003, we marched for immigrant worker’s rights from Jackson Heights to Flushing Meadows Park.
Jessica Recognized For Her Community Activism by the Media
Listed as an up-and-coming Latino activist for my work in health care, racial justice, and reproductive rights.
Community Activist For Racial justice
Jessica became a leading voice to combating racism and hate crimes in Queens. As the president of NICE (New Immigrant Community Empowerment), Jessica helped organize a protest rally against a bias attack in Jackson Heights.
Associate Director of the New York University Center for Multicultural Education and Programs
In this role, Jessica created support, programs, and services to address the aspirations and challenges of students from ethnically diverse backgrounds. She achieved this by developing programs that focus on fostering student leadership and promoting socially conscience change agents. In collaboration with student affairs colleagues, she led the creation of a full-day Social Justice Organizing Institute, intermingling social justice theory and methodology with the realities of grassroots organizing by bringing in local and national organizers to the dialogue.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Jessica completed a certificate program from the Institute for Not-for-Profit Management at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.
New York City Transit Riders Council
Appointed representative of the New York City Transit Riders Council, the Permanent Citizen's Advisory Committee, and advocated for accessibility improvements to the MTA subway and bus network.
Adjunct Professor of Latino and Latin American Studies at the City University of New York’s City College
Adjunct Professor At NEw York University teaching Racial Justice and gender Studies
Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
Jessica ran a NYC-based social justice organization that builds Latina/x power for reproductive health, rights and justice through community organizing, policy advocacy and culture shift.
RAISING A FAMILY IN JACKSON HEIGHTS
Supported Daniel Dromm in 2009
ADVOCATED FOR the Fight for $15 — Raise the minimum wage in NY
Supported Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2018
Supported Jessica Ramos in 2018
Supported Catalina Cruz in 2018
Supported Tiffany Caban in 2019
HELPED ORGANIZE RALLY TO SAVE TRAVERS PARK FROM CAR DEALERSHIP
Advocate for Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform
FIGHTING FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS
COVID-19 Mutual Aid Relief & Outreach
