Meet Jess
Her Story
Jess grew up off the grid in Allegan - no electricity, no running water, no indoor plumbing - an upbringing that taught her the value of resourcefulness, community, and hard work. She moved to Kalamazoo in 1991 for college, and over the years, it became home. Her five children were raised in Vicksburg and Kalamazoo, where two of them were proud recipients of The Kalamazoo Promise. As a single mom and small business owner, Jess knows what it means to juggle challenges, build connections, and fight for a better future. Today, she runs Bee Joyful Shop, Michigan’s 1st Zero Waste Refillery, and serves in multiple leadership roles to help downtown thrive - including as Coordinator of the Downtown Kalamazoo Collective, Treasurer of the DDA/DEGA Executive Board, Chair of the Marketing & Events Committee, member of the City’s Clean & Green Committee, Social Media Manager for Downtown Kalamazoo, President of The Foundation for the Revitalization of Downtown Kalamazoo.
With deep roots in the community and a proven track record of collaborative, forward-thinking leadership, Jess brings a joyful, solutions-focused energy to everything she does - because the last thing this city needs is more negativity. She’s ready to serve as a positive force on the Kalamazoo City Commission, helping move the city forward with heart, hustle, and hope.
