Needmor Fund Names New Executive Director
Jhatayn “Jay” Travis, most recently co-director of The Midwest Academy, has been named the new executive director of the Needmor Fund. In announcing her appointment, Board Chair Kirk Noden commented: “We are thrilled to have Jay assume this leadership role at Needmor. Not only does she have extensive experience as a community organizer, but she has also worked at other progressive foundations such as the Woods Fund of Chicago and the Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing. This unique combination of knowledge and expertise makes her the ideal candidate to further expand our presence as a Midwest funder committed to social justice and community organizing.”
In addition to her work at the Midwest Academy and in philanthropy, Travis has played leadership roles in building a number of local and national organizing alliances for education justice, youth employment, affordable housing, and political independence. At age 28, she became one of the youngest executive directors of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO), one of the oldest black-led grassroots organizations in Chicago. Through this work, Travis highlighted the intersection between gentrification and education issues and played a vital role in building community and labor alliances fighting to protect public education and against mass school closings impacting black and brown students at the local, state, and national levels.
“I have witnessed organizers' determination, courage, and ingenuity across the country, strategically building power to create a more equitable, just world free from oppression, injustice and violence," Travis said. "The Midwest region has a rich history and tradition of organizing. I am genuinely excited to join the Needmor team as it strengthens its seminal strategy of galvanizing resources to support impactful organizing work in the Midwest.”
Travis, who holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration, will assume her new role as of September 12, 2022. She is replacing Mary Sobecki, who is retiring after eighteen years with Needmor.
Based in Perrysburg, Ohio, The Needmor Fund is a private family foundation that was established by Duane and Virginia Secor Stranahan in 1956. Its mission is to work with others to bring about social justice. It support groups of people who come together to organize their community, build power, and challenge the social, economic, or political conditions that bar their access to participation in a democratic society. Its grantmaking program supports community organizing in an eight-state region in the Midwest. To learn more about their work, visit www.needmorfund.org.