Kean Graduate Helps Transform Underserved Communities

Since graduating from Kean University, Stephanie Gidigbi-Jenkins ’07 has taken on jobs as local as improving housing in Orange Township, and as far-reaching as helping communities nationwide tap into federal funds for infrastructure.

A public policy strategist who worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, she now independently helps organizations hoping to transform their communities.

Gidigbi-Jenkins launched and oversees the Communities First Alliance, a $25 million fund that helps organizations tap into trillions of federal dollars earmarked for community infrastructure improvements. A goal is to help create a more equitable, just and climate-resilient environment. 

“At the end of my recent maternity leave, I was holding my daughter, Anaya Joy, and realized I had to go fight for her future,” said Gidigbi-Jenkins, who administers the fund through North Star Partners, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm she founded in 2018. “I knew that if we could make investments in communities across the United States, we would feel it for her generation and the next."

Gidigbi-Jenkins was recently also appointed vice chair of a 24-member federal Advisory Committee on Transportation Equity, another avenue to effect change.

“The role of transportation is often not considered, but it's critical for economic mobility,” she said. “It usually takes about 20 years for people to see a transportation project completed. It’s important to plan carefully and engage not only those coming into an area, but those already there.”

Tenisha Malcolm, director of the Urban Mayors Policy Center at Kean’s John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, said Gidigbi-Jenkins was instrumental in guiding the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association to help communities by providing information and facilitating access to federal resources.

“Stephanie has been a dynamic force in advancing community engagement, social justice and equity within our urban communities,” Malcolm said. “Her innovative ideas and collaborative approach have been pivotal in amplifying marginalized voices, advocating for equitable policies and nurturing meaningful dialogue.”

Originally from South Orange, Gidigbi-Jenkins, who now lives in Washington, D.C., grew up wanting to become an ambassador or foreign service officer. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and communication at Kean, with a double minor in international relations and public relations. In 2013, she added a Master of Arts degree in strategic communication from Seton Hall University.

At Kean, Gidigbi-Jenkins had experiences that paved the way for her career.

As a student ambassador and academic instructional mentor, she learned to work with and understand the needs of people from all walks of life. She also had the opportunity to take a United Nations internship with the Sierra Leonean embassy. Additionally, on a trip to Capitol Hill sponsored by the Washington Center, she sowed the seeds for an internship with Rep. Donald M. Payne. That led to four years as his senior legislative assistant.

Convinced she could do more good domestically than internationally, Gidigbi-Jenkins took on the role as chief of staff for the City of Orange, where she helped revitalize housing. She then worked on public engagement for recovery efforts in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy.

Along with the University helping launch her career, Gidigbi-Jenkins credits Kean with playing a crucial role in catalyzing her family life.

“Had I not gone to the seminar in Washington, D.C. that led me to work on the Hill, I never would have met my husband, Aaron Jenkins,” she said. “He worked for John Kerry on the Senate side, and I worked for Congressman Payne on the House side,” she said. “We were married in the Capitol.”