James Meerdink

James Meerdink is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in community advocacy and public policy. Currently serving as Community Advocacy Director and Advocacy Campaign Manager at the American Heart Association since April 2019, James manages the Cleveland Healthy Kids' Meals Campaign. Previous roles include Acting Executive Director and Project Coordinator at Parks & Trails New York, focusing on legislative advocacy and project supervision. James has also held positions as an EMT, worked in local planning at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, and served as Policy Coordinator for the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, where efforts included developing smoke-free housing materials and coordinating community health education. Additionally, James organized health care reform initiatives for Citizen Action Illinois and managed multiple community tax assistance sites at Ladder Up. Meerdink holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.