Jessica Kirk

Strategic cultural planning and community development leader with over 10 years of experience designing and implementing cultural programs, public policy, community-informed initiatives, and organizational strategies that advance equitable outcomes across nonprofit, municipal, academic, and arts sectors. Extensive experience leading complex projects from concept through implementation while balancing organizational priorities, stakeholder interests, budgets, and operational requirements. Experienced in public engagement and policy development, with demonstrated success designing community consultation processes, facilitating workshops and public programming, conducting research, interpreting qualitative data, and translating findings into evidence-informed policies, recommendations, and sustainable program models. Collaborative relationship builder and organizational leader with proven ability to establish partnerships across government, arts and cultural organizations, academic institutions, developers, community groups, and equity-deserving communities. Skilled at leading cross-functional teams, advising senior leadership and boards, supervising complex initiatives, managing facilities and capital projects, preparing strategic reports and presentations, and representing organizations with diplomacy and sound judgment. Accomplished arts administrator with eight years of leadership in the arts and culture sector including directing a major community cultural hub, overseeing cultural programming, managing public access to creative space, leading facility renovation projects, securing municipal, provincial, and federal funding, developing operational and governance policies, as well as advancing initiatives that strengthen cultural infrastructure and long-term community capacity. Exceptional communicator, researcher, and facilitator recognized for building consensus among diverse stakeholders, delivering community-engaged programming, developing educational resources and equity tools, leading public consultations, and communicating complex policy and planning issues through compelling reports, presentations, advocacy, and strategic recommendations that support organizational and community priorities.

• Arts administration
• Community development
• Facilitation
• Fundraising and grant applications
• Policy development
• Public engagement
• Qualitative research and analysis
• Strategic cultural planning
• WordPress

1. Executive Director | Managing Director

   Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism

   Oct 2020 to Jun 2026

   Successive roles: Executive Director from May 2021 to June 2026 and Managing Director from October 2020 to May 2021. • Provided strategic leadership for a 10,000-square-foot Black community arts and cultural hub, overseeing organizational operations, governance, community programming, facilities, and long-term strategic planning. • Led the development and implementation of organizational policies, including operational, governance, equity, and community guidelines, while supporting Board governance and organizational sustainability. • Directed a two-year capital renovation project and implemented an equitable space-use model, enabling the Centre to support more than 200 new and returning community organizations following its reopening. • Designed and delivered public education resources, workshops, and post-secondary curriculum focused on Black, Black LGBTQIA2S+, Black Deaf, Black disabled, and other equity-deserving communities. • Coordinated staff professional development, including AODA, EDI, and ASL learning opportunities, while supporting employee relations and performance management. • Built and maintained strategic partnerships with community organizations, government, funders, artists, academic institutions, and sector stakeholders to advance organizational priorities. • Led organizational fundraising strategy, securing public and private funding through successful grant applications to agencies including the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canadian Heritage, and other funders.

2. Graduate Research Assistant

   Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

   Jan 2020 to May 2021

   • Coordinated qualitative research interviews for Charting Black Studies in Canada, led by Dr. rosalind hampton. • Conducted literature reviews, qualitative analysis, and research synthesis examining Black student organizing and coalition-building in Canadian universities between 1960 and 1999. • Supported the development of evidence-informed research outputs by organizing data, interpreting findings, and contributing to collaborative academic research projects.

3. Membership, Equity & Engagement Coordinator

   The Writers' Union of Canada

   Jan 2019 to Feb 2021

   • Led initiatives advancing the organization's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan through research, program development, and organizational change initiatives. • Designed and coordinated sector-leading programs including BIPOC Writers Connect mentorship, EDI eLearning modules, anti-oppression workshops, and the National Black Writers Town Hall. • Chaired an Equity Task Force and regularly advised senior leadership on equity and member engagement strategies. • Monitored emerging social issues affecting Canada's literary sector and provided strategic recommendations that informed organizational responses and external stakeholder engagement. • Managed organizational communications by developing social media content, maintaining a multi-platform communications calendar, and producing digital engagement materials.

4. Campaigns & Advocacy Coordinator

   Scarborough Campus Students’ Union

   Jun 2017 to Jan 2019

   • Planned and executed advocacy campaigns, community events, and public education initiatives supporting student engagement and equitable access to post-secondary education. • Supervised staff and oversaw daily operations of multiple student services, including the Food Centre, Free Book Network, Volunteer Network Program, and Racialized Student Collective. • Developed communications and digital marketing content across social media and the organization's WordPress website to increase awareness of campaigns, services, and events.

5. Executive (Vice-President Equity & President)

   Scarborough Campus Students’ Union

   May 2015 to Apr 2017

   • Directed organizational operations, governance, and strategic planning for a student organization managing a $5 million operating budget and multiple subsidiary services. • Represented student interests through government relations and policy advocacy, successfully lobbying for increased investment in post-secondary education. • Served as organizational spokesperson, coordinating public relations strategies, drafting media statements, and representing the organization through interviews and public appearances.

1. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

   Masters of Arts, Social Justice Education

   2020

   Mapping Livable Geographies: Black Radical Praxis within and beyond Toronto, Social Justice Education

2. University of Toronto

   Honours Bachelor of Science, Psychology

   2017

• Standard First Aid, Level C Certification, CPR/AED

  Canadian Red Cross