Jesse is 25 years old from Ladner British Columbia. He loves animals and often bores his friends by naming passing water foul (his favourite is the tiny bufflehead). In his spare time he enjoys watching HGTV and flipping though House and Home magazine – a result from working for 6 years at Benjamin Moore Paints, Coast Decorating Centre.
Jesse came to YouthCO in 2007 initially looking for more information about HIV. He loved what he found at YouthCO so much he got involved by joining the Board of Directors. During this time he championed HIV+ youth advocacy by pushing for increased programming and starting a letter writing campaign in opposition to the media portrayal of HIV positive individuals in public cases of HIV criminalization. Jesse eventually joined the Staff Team as Community Engagement Coordinator in 2009 promoting YouthCO to the public and building membership.
In summer of 2011 Jesse was hired as YouthCO’s Interim Executive Director. During this period Jesse used his unique voice to raise YouthCO’s profile and to expand peer support and education programming to gay youth, youth living with perinatally acquired HIV, and all youth under 21 living with HIV in BC.
Jesse feels honored to continue this work now as Co-Executive Director with the amazing Tasha Nijjar. Two heads are better than one but we still need help! Please sign up as a monthly donor as now, more then ever, YouthCO needs your support to continue our awesome programming!
Thank you!
