Jane Ramsey Papers

Jane Ramsey joined the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) in 1979 and served as the organization’s executive director from 1982 to 2012. In 1986, she took a two-year leave from JCUA to serve in Mayor Harold Washington’s administration as Director of Community Relations, advising on outreach and engagement with Chicago’s communities, in addition to overseeing scheduling for Mayor Washington. Ramsey was also an active volunteer in both Washington’s 1983 and 1987 mayoral campaigns, serving as a northside Ward Coordinator and the Coordinator for Jewish Voters for Washington. In 2012, Ramsey founded Just Ventures to support organizations tackling social justice initiatives.

Ramsey serves as a lecturer and field instructor for the University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work Policy and Practice and a faculty advisor and professor at Experience Liberal Arts Colleges, headquartered in Shanghai, China. In addition to providing leadership training and public speaking, Ramsey has served on numerous boards including: CAN-TV, Chicago Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Chicago Women Take Action, the Commission on Social Action or Reform Judaism, Ethics Coalition, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago, KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, the Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association, Private Industry Council (PIC), the Shalom Center, the Women’s Commission of the City of Chicago and Women in Charge.

Ramsey holds a Master’s degree from The University of Chicago, School of Social Administration and a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.