kandace jones

Anansi Ventures invests in, and provides business advisory support to, startup and emerging social entrepreneurs making an impact throughout the African Diaspora.

Strategic advisor to state and local education agency leaders, supporting improvements in operational effectiveness, scaling successful initiatives, stakeholder engagement, data-based decision making, peer-to-peer learning, leadership development, change management, and continuous improvement.

Led the Office of Out-of-School Time Programs (OSTP), providing opportunities for positive youth development through high quality academic, wellness, and enrichment programs in the afterschool hours and during the summer in 102 schools. Managed a staff of 150, and partnerships with over 250 community and neighborhood-based organizations in delivering out-of-school time programs that promote shared positive youth development outcomes throughout DC.

The Broad Residency in Urban Education (www.broadresidency.org) A highly selective two-year management development program that trains leaders for senior positions in public education.

As a political appointee in the Obama Administration, I coordinated technical assistance and capacity-building support for states, districts, and schools implementing the Department’s $4.5 Billion School Improvement Grant to turn around the nation’s persistently lowest-achieving schools (50 States, 3 U.S. Territories, ~600 school districts, ~1500 schools).

Global Elevation is a non-profit organization that provides business leadership and entrepreneurial skills training for high school and university level students throughout the African Diaspora. Global Elevation facilitates the development of core business and entrepreneurial skills through a customized curriculum administered through after-school and weekend workshops and study-abroad programs in the summer designed to create global leaders.