Margaret Jones Desjarlais

Community Engagement Unity Liaison- Project Unity @City Of Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa, AL, US

Provides thought leadership, strategic planning, and engagement guidance to a community-led initiative that supports a diverse cross-section of Tuscaloosa’s residents and industries to alleviate social, racial, and economic inequities across six areas: Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization, Economic and Workforce Development, Education, Youth Sports and Recreation, Community Connection and Outreach, and Recruitment, Training, and Retention Advises city senior leadership and elected officials on historic, current, and emergent barriers to equity and proposes appropriate strategies based on community development and DEIB best practices Primary author, designer, and editor of the initiative’s inaugural report, Project Unity Recommendations, a comprehensive guide to the 60+ equity actions endorsed by the coalition. This document provides the framework for the City of Tuscaloosa’s equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility priorities and strategies Facilitated the creation, refinement, and adoption of subcommittee recommendations, including the endorsement to establish a Department of Youth Advancement and Opportunity. This recommendation laid the foundation for the creation of the Division of Youth Advancement and Opportunity, the City of Tuscaloosa’s first business unit dedicated to improving the quality of life children and youthContributed to the launch of the Project Unity website. I provided content and drafted the initial low fidelity wire-frame

University of Alabama

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)