About Me
Jess Solomon, MSOD (she/her)
Hi, I'm Jess, and I believe that culture rules everything.
For the last 15 years, I've been working at the intersection of social change and culture, helping visionary leaders and purpose-driven organizations manage and lead through complexity and nuance. I design and facilitate experiences that weave together collective wisdom, creativity, and evidence-based strategies to support leaders and teams in tackling challenges, shaping solutions, and building resilient organizations.
As Principal Consultant at Art in Praxis, I thrive on co-creating visionary and practical roadmaps. I've had the privilege of working on projects that move the needle, like leading the Community Infrastructure Fund for Mutual Aid (CIFMA) with the Omidyar Network, using participatory grant-making to invest in mutual aid infrastructure across the U.S., and supporting the Bay Area Cultural Funders for Equity (BACFE), a place-based funding collaborative advancing cultural equity and economic justice.
With experience in facilitation, process improvement, and team development, I host offsites for organizations to harness their wisdom and do strategic work while building relationships and culture. I've had the pleasure of partnering with groups such as Common Future, Borealis Philanthropy, Emergent Fund, National Arts Strategies(NAS), and Rap Research Lab, among others, helping them unlock new ways of working to achieve meaningful impact.
My career journey has taken me from higher education and arts administration to non-profit management, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. I've held leadership roles like Board President of Alternate ROOTS, Chief Weaver of Social Fabric at the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, and Vice President of the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, where I developed a place-based arts and social change strategy that continues to impact Baltimore's cultural economy.
I've also served as a grants panelist for the Diverse City Fund, MAP Fund, the NEA, and the Maryland State Arts Council, supporting bold initiatives at the intersection of culture and social change.
All of my work is connected by an understanding that a more just future requires creativity. I consider this cultural work.
As a certified coach (IFC) and contributor to Aesthetic Perspectives, a nationally recognized evaluation framework for socially engaged art, I've had the opportunity to share my expertise with a wide range of organizations and thought leaders. I've also completed fellowships with National Arts Strategies, the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Innovators, and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations.
I earned an M.S. in Organization Development from American University and B.A.'s in Communication Studies and African American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. In addition to my work, I serve on the board of the Valerie J. Maynard Foundation and am a founding member of Lalibela Baltimore, an artist-led community development project creating a new home for film, technology, culture, and community.
I welcome opportunities to learn about and contribute to projects that prioritize and value meaningful, creative, and equitable change. Contact me.
STRENGTHSFINDER TOP 5: Strategic, Connectedness, Maximizer, Activator, Empathy
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STRENGTHSFINDER TOP 5: Strategic, Connectedness, Maximizer, Activator, Empathy 〰️
Guiding Principles
These are the principles that guide my work.
I am deeply grateful to the guides, friends, colleagues and organizations across time and space that have inspired these.
Culture is the Salt in the Stew: Culture comprises tangible materials, shared beliefs, and social practices that shape how a community expresses itself, views the world, and interacts. It influences everything, often subtly, guiding how we mobilize, relate, and lead. We each hold the power—and responsibility—to nurture the culture of our organizations and communities in positive ways.
Creativity is Our Compass: Envisioning, designing, and building a future that is radically better than what might otherwise exist demands risk-taking, unconventional connections, and imagination.
From Margin to Center: I am committed to creating spaces that honor us all through intersectional, liberatory, and joyous design, as a strategy to disrupt systemic inequities.
Remembering is a Form of Innovation: Creating something lasting and meaningful offers a chance for legacy-building by celebrating and incorporating what has worked in the past.
We are Spiraling: Change and growth are cyclical and spiral in nature. With each turn, as we integrate the lessons learned, growth follows, leading to deeper self-awareness and understanding.
The Journey from A to B: The process is as valuable as the outcome. Thoughtfully developed processes build strong, adaptable foundations that support lasting success.
Know Your Roles: As a Weaver and Builder in the Social Change Ecosystem, I connect people, ideas, and resources to create something larger than ourselves.
Testimonials
“Jess Solomon’s facilitation of our leadership retreat was transformative for Baltimore Public Media. Her guidance helped us gain crucial clarity and alignment as we plan for the future. The exercises revealed important areas where we can grow and improve as a team. Her thoughtful recommendations have already given us a clear path forward, and her impact on our leadership team was deeply appreciated. ”
“Incredible facilitation and thought leadership! Jessica and Art in Praxis are developing emerging projects that are shifting the philanthropic landscape.”
“Jess helped us zoom out to expand our visions and zoom into the nitty gritty necessary to implement those visions. She brought a sense of joy and ease to complex and sometimes difficult questions, and as a result, we were able to untangle the knots and strengthen new muscles together. ”
“Just wow. Our collective was blown away by how in such a short period of time, our understanding of each other deepened and our shared histories and vision became super clear. Using music, storytelling, visioning, and inquiry, Jess led us into a new scope of big and scary work together, without leaving us feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. Jess brought tools, frameworks, love, and joy that was just unmatched.””
Creative Works in Progress
Still image from The Bridge. 2024.
The Bridge (Work in Progress)
The Bridge - a short film adaptation of The Bridge Poem (1981) by Kate Rushin, a powerful piece that captures the isolation and complexity of navigating the intersections of being Black and a woman. Originally published in This Bridge Called My Back anthology, the poem resonates deeply in both historical and contemporary contexts. The film, which I conceptualized and narrated, illustrates these themes in a present day context using stop-motion photography.
Comedy
I’m taking (another) Stand-Up Comedy Class this fall that concludes in a 5 minute set. I’m exploring the humor in facilitating and general workplace dynamics.
Jess Solomon, In Laughing Color, Washington DC, 2015. My first official comedy set! <3
Contact
