Welcome
Kristin Picot, President of CJF America + President of North American Operations, The Courtney Jordan Foundation
Richard Monocchio, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, joins hands with Mr. Courtney Jordan — Founder and visionary behind The Courtney Jordan Foundation — at the dedication of the MayField Ragland Center. Also pictured: Kristen Picot and officials from the Roxboro Housing Authority, celebrating a powerful step forward in public housing and community empowerment.
Kristen Picot speaks with residents to gather input on their programming needs as part of her research for Cornerstone America.
Kristen Picot, President of CJF America, and Nick Gallardo, CFO of CJF America and Managing Partner of The Startup Fund, hand out Easter baskets to children during an Easter egg hunt in Raleigh, NC.
A Message from the President
At The Courtney Jordan Foundation in America, we are not merely stewards of philanthropic programs — we are the architects of systemic transformation. Our charge is not transactional; it is profoundly existential: to liberate the human spirit from the confines of poverty, disenfranchisement, and diminished opportunity, and to replace them with sustainable pathways to dignity, prosperity, and self-actualization.
As President of CJF America and President of North American Operations for The Courtney Jordan Foundation, I carry the solemn privilege and relentless determination to lead this mission — a mission that is not only urgent but unequivocally sacred.
We live in a time when societal inequities are no longer just statistical footnotes or academic debates; they are daily lived realities for millions. But here, within these walls, we refuse to concede to cynicism or despair. We believe — unequivocally — that every life matters, that potential is universally distributed even when resources are not, and that the circumstances of one’s birth must never determine the boundaries of one’s future.
Kristen Picot speaks with residents to gather input on their programming needs as part of her research for Cornerstone America.
Our Smart Hubs are not just community centers; they are epicenters of human reinvention. Our StartUP Fund is not just capital deployment; it is the radical democratization of entrepreneurial opportunity. Our Sunflower Communities are not merely housing developments; they are ecosystems of belonging and generational wealth creation. And our Elysian Wellness programs are not superficial luxuries; they are manifestations of our conviction that every individual — regardless of zip code — deserves access to comprehensive, holistic well-being.
We do not perform this work in isolation. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, propelled by the visionary leadership of our Founder and Executive Chairman, Mr. Courtney Jordan, whose unwavering commitment to “Help One, Save Many” is the clarion call that shapes every program, every initiative, every partnership we undertake.
Kristen Picot, President of CJF America, with Shonquella Terrell, Founder and President of BeShe, Inc.—a Wake County-based nonprofit dedicated to equipping survivors of domestic abuse with the resources and knowledge to advocate for themselves in court. In 2023, Kristen was appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors.
To those who join us in this pursuit —as partners, as volunteers, as advocates — know this:
narrative where dreams deferred are reignited, where forgotten neighborhoods become flourishing communities, where talent and ingenuity are unleashed irrespective of background or circumstance.
In every city we enter, in every life we touch, we are making a declaration:
That hope is not a fragile sentiment — it is an engine of change.
That human potential is not theoretical — it is real and urgent.
And that together, through intentional action and unwavering belief, we can and will build a future that honors the inherent worth and brilliance of every human being.
With deepest gratitude and steadfast resolve,
Kristin Picot