November 15, 2012
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has named Jennifer Yocom as the Bureau’s Community Relations Manager.
Yocom, most recently Chief of Staff to Mayor Sam Adams, brings over a decade of campaign, public service, communications and policymaking experience to the position.
“Jennifer brings an exceptional level of dedication to public service and community involvement to everything she does.” said Warren Jimenez, Portland Parks & Recreation’s Assistant Director. “Her perspective as a campaigner and Parks volunteer is particularly valuable as we ask Portlanders to consider a citywide Parks bond.”
Prior to her role as Mayor Adams’ Chief of Staff, Yocom served as Arts and Culture Policy Director, where she spearheaded a regional approach to cultural policy and worked to organize the coalition of educators and arts advocates who became the leaders of the Schools and Arts Together ballot measure. Voters passed this ballot measure at approximately 62% on November 6, 2012 and it established dedicated funding for arts education and access in Portland.
“I am thrilled to join the Parks team,” said Yocom. “As a Portlander and Parks volunteer for Harper's Playground, I am passionate about our city's parks and the role they play in the health of our kids and our community."
Yocom has also served in communications and economic development roles at the City of Portland’s former Office of Sustainable Development, worked for previous City Commissioner Erik Sten, led previous communications and political campaigns and was managing director of the Bus Project, a democracy nonprofit focused on young people and political advocacy.
Yocom begins as Community Relations Manager on December 3, 2012.