Jessie Jefferson

Jessie Jefferson is an American community organizer and neighborhood advocate in Kansas City, Missouri, known for her work in the city's East Side. In the 1990s, she retired from a career as a supervisor for AT&T, and launched a new career as a largely unpaid volunteer, consultant, and mentor. She is the Third District representative on the City of Kansas City's Neighborhood Advisory Council.

Kansas City PBS featured her as a "Neighborhood Champion" and a "Changemaker", and the University of Kansas's Center for Community Health and Development uses her activities as a case study for building community leadership. She has provided guidance to numerous neighborhood associations, including the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council, Washington-Wheatley Neighborhood Association, and Oak Park Neighborhood Association, helping them secure funding and implement local programs.

Early life Jefferson grew up on the city's West Side in what was described as a "Bible-centric family" with a strong connection to the Greenwood Baptist Church, which was at 18th Street and Belleview Avenue. She graduated from Central High School in 1961, which at the time was regarded as "one of the most esteemed schools in the state".