Jess Venable-Novak

Jess is a queer, non-binary educator, organizer, and parent living in rural Vermont. Jess began working with Family Equality first as the Midwest Children’s Programming Intern from 2010-2012, then returned as the Data & Training Intern in 2019 and the Family Week Fellow in 2020. They are grateful to be returning to Family Equality as the Director of Family Formation after having served as the Family Engagement Manager for several months. Originally from the Midwest, Jess has been living and working in Vermont for several years, most recently serving as the Statewide Director of Education at the Pride Center of Vermont. Jess brings with them years of experience working at the intersection of education, facilitation and community building within the non-profit sector as well in state-level politics. Presently, when they aren’t crossword-ing with their sweetie or doing art projects with their kiddo, they consult with schools, employers, and organizations to facilitate conversations about how we can build a culture that supports and celebrates LGBTQ+ people.