Erika Jackson-Stokes

About Erika Jackson-Stokes

Much of my career has been focused on connecting resources to needs and nurturing relationships. I find fulfillment in creating connections that support institutional growth, inspiring missions, or work plans to provide care, whether through strategic donor engagement, constituent management, cultivating long-term partnerships, or establishing trust with patients and clients. I am a passionate professional with 10+ years of experience in fundraising, relationship management, data management, writing, and research & analysis. I seek to continue growth in philanthropy, development, and relationship management to execute strategy, campaign planning, fundraising, and stewardship. I am a strategic planner and solution-focused, skilled in critical thinking, public speaking, research, writing, and program management with goals to sharpen organization, produce quality content, generate support, and increase revenue. I thrive with independent projects and am oriented to improve efficiency based on assessed needs, research, and data. I am also a creative minister and spiritual care artist with advanced education in theological studies and training. I am a compassionate and empathetic chaplain with 4+ years of recent pastoral care experience in hospitals, churches, and universities. I am equipped to hold space for people to share their stories, explore their feelings, and express their needs. In this role, I develop and implement care plans based on assessments. In addition to my professional development career, I am working towards chaplain board certification. I am a proud nerd about research, scholarship, data management, and data analysis. I delve into the context and historical information about subjects, policies, practices, and people. I am highly skilled at active listening and attending to people. I am passionate about listening to understand donor motivations and ensuring they feel valued and engaged. I am passionate about listening to the internal community and stakeholders, to craft and share compelling stories to highlight impact and needs. To patients, it is my honor to be a compassionate presence and listen actively to help them name and identify their feelings, needs, values, and where they find meaning. In all areas of work: non-profit, government, corporate, and ministry, I strive to be a bridge connecting resources to needs.

Experience

1. Hospital Chaplain Resident

   MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

   Sep 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Proactively and routinely provided spiritual care as an interdisciplinary clinical member on four units, including an intensive care and oncology unit; shared input during interdisciplinary rounds with physicians, nurses, social workers, and therapists.• Held the role of a compassionate and grounding presence, accompanying patients, families, and staff through moments of profound vulnerability, emotional and spiritual distress, illness, loss, pain, and life-altering transitions within the high-pressure environment of the hospital.• Collaborated with medical teams to provide holistic care; nurtured the well-being of healthcare staff through intentional rapport and staff care projects.• Managed crisis intervention and support to patients, families, and staff; facilitated difficult conversations• Conducted spiritual assessments and developed care plans; charted notes in EMR for all visits • Provided nonjudgmental support to people of all beliefs, helping them express, find meaning, and find comfort without trying to fix or proselytize• Offered interventions and spiritual resources, including sacraments and rituals; offered counseling; held space for grief, hope, and transformation; utilized translator technology to conduct visits.• Advocated for patients\' values and wishes, collaborated with medical teams to provide whole-person care and holistic care. • Led spirituality groups for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units, fostering a supportive environment for patients to explore their spiritual needs and coping strategies.• Coordinated weekly interfaith hospital services, demonstrating knowledge of diversity and cultural sensitivity in serving a diverse patient population.• Facilitated lectures to 3rd-year medical students on caring for dying patients, contributing to student competencies related to empathy and boundaries. • Staffed overnight shifts and holidays; responded to codes, pages, and consults; collaborated with chaplain staff to care for all

Education

• University of Maryland College Park

  B.A.

• UCLA

  Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies

  2002 — 2002

• Howard University

  M.Div