jessica [at] latinainstitute [dot] org
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas is the Deputy Director at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, the only national reproductive justice organization that specifically works to advance reproductive health and rights for Latinas.
As a native New Yorker, she is engaged in numerous progressive local and national organizations that promotes social justice advocacy, particularly around immigrant, Latina, and gender issues. Jessica is a Board Member of New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE) and has served as its President since 2004. She is also a Board Member of Medical Students for Choice. Jessica is an Advisory Member of the Women of Color Policy Network and serves on the Friends of the National Institute for Latino Policy Committee (formerly the Institute for Puerto Rican Policy). Additionally, she is engaged in a number of city-wide coalitions to increase Latina’s political engagement. From 2002 to 2006, she was elected Female Member of the New York State Democratic Committee for the 39th Assembly District, representing the diverse communities of Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst and Woodside. At NLIRH, Jessica is responsible for implementing communications strategies, overseeing internal operations, and managing all policy and advocacy campaigns, programs and projects. She represents NLIRH at numerous national conferences and has provided expertise during congressional briefings and media inquiries. She has been a guest on National Public Radio, the Lisa Birnbach Show (GreenStone Media) and the Brian Lehrer Show (WNYC-FM), and has been quoted in many print and online news sources. Jessica co-authored "Immigrant Rights and Reproductive Justice" for the "Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change," produced for the 2007 U.S. Social Forum, and contributed "¡Pa’lante! Continuing the struggle for social justice" for Feministing's 'Voices Of' Series. Jessica holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Boston University, where she graduated cum laude.
