A Message from the President: The New Structure and Why It’s Necessary for Our Future

Dear Team, Partners, and Supporters,

After months of grappling with the frustrating delays and bureaucratic challenges that have held us back, I’m excited to announce a new direction for CJF America. It’s not just about growing; it’s about taking control, responding directly to the needs of the people we serve, and building a foundation that will allow us to thrive—on our terms.

As we’ve seen firsthand, the system we’ve been working within is not built for swift action or true impact. For too long, we have been required to wait, adjust, and appease external forces that were disconnected from the everyday realities faced by the communities we aim to uplift. This was never part of the vision we had when we started. We believe in service over bureaucracy, and we are now embarking on a new chapter where we can move forward with purpose, efficiency, and direct impact.

The New Organizational Structure

To fully realize this vision, we’ve made strategic changes to our internal structure. This will enable us to serve communities more effectively, empower our teams, and execute our mission without the constraints of external interference.

Here’s how we’re structured now:

Executive Leadership

We’ve streamlined leadership roles to make decisions faster and with greater accountability. Our Executive Team is now smaller, but more focused and more agile. This ensures that every decision we make moves us closer to our mission rather than slowing us down.

• President & CEO: Overseeing the entire organization and ensuring alignment with our mission. 
• Chief of Staff: Ensures coordination between departments and faster decision-making. 
• Chief Operating Officer (COO): Manages day-to-day operations, ensuring we’re operating efficiently at every level. 

Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs)

These leaders are now more directly aligned with our new regional focus and will drive the execution of our vision at the ground level. Each SVP will focus on specific areas of CJF America’s mission, ensuring we build on our strengths while expanding into new markets.

1. SVP of Cornerstone America
   Leading our flagship programs and ensuring we stay grounded in our community-focused initiatives. 
2. SVP of CJF Youth Alliance
   Overseeing the development and impact of youth-centered programs across the nation. 
3. SVP of Educational Programming
   Expanding and enhancing educational initiatives, from daycare to workforce development. 
4. SVP of Special Programming & Media (Media Acquisitions)
   Leading media partnerships and ensuring our unique programs are effectively broadcasted, reaching broader audiences. 

Vice Presidents (VPs) of Development & Community Engagement

We’ve made a commitment to build deep relationships with communities, so our VP of Development & Strategic Partnerships and VP of Community Engagement & Government Affairs will work side-by-side, ensuring CJF America is present and actively engaged in every region we serve. They will focus on local partnerships that allow us to rapidly scale without compromising quality.

National Program Staff

As we continue to grow, we are also expanding our team of directors who will lead crucial areas like volunteer engagement, outcomes tracking, and family support services. We’ve placed a greater emphasis on local leadership who are closest to the communities we serve, allowing for faster responsiveness and more sustainable programs.

• Director of Advisory Affairs & Strategic Relations 
• National Director of Volunteer Engagement 
• Director of Data & Outcomes 
• Director of Alumni & Family Support Services 

Cornerstone Hub Leadership

For the first time, we’re creating clear regional leadership teams to ensure the needs of every hub are met. Each region will have a Senior Vice President at the helm, supported by Associate Vice Presidents (AVP) and Assistant Vice Presidents (AVP). This structure ensures decentralized decision-making, where local leaders have the autonomy to respond to the unique challenges and opportunities in their areas.

Our hubs are central to our mission and will now be operated by locally invested leaders, which will allow us to scale while staying true to our roots. Whether it’s a hub in Alabama, Florida, or Washington, DC, the local leadership will ensure the direct alignment with our mission and long-term objectives.

Why This Change Is Necessary

1. Empowering Our Teams: The new structure gives more authority to local leaders, allowing them to make decisions faster and with more autonomy. It’s critical that our local teams are empowered to make the best decisions for their communities, not be bogged down by distant bureaucracy. This change allows us to better meet the needs of the people and adapt swiftly to changing circumstances. 
2. Focused Regional Expansion: With 17 new hubs and 130 new positions, we’ve significantly expanded our operations. A more streamlined structure enables us to be nimble as we open new locations across the country and beyond. By focusing on regional leadership, we can better tailor our services to the unique needs of each community while ensuring that quality standards are maintained across the board. 
3. Increased Accountability: With clearer lines of leadership, we ensure that every leader is accountable for both program success and financial sustainability. This structure supports our goal of ensuring that our funds are used efficiently and that we are creating impactful, sustainable change in every market we enter. 
4. Serving Communities, Not Bureaucracy: We made the decision to venture out on our own after realizing that we were strung along by entities who were more focused on their own agendas than on the people we aim to serve. The new structure is a direct response to this realization. We are now free to make bold decisions and focus on what really matters: the people in the communities we serve. Our mission remains clear: to create direct, impactful change for individuals and families in need. 

Looking Ahead

With this new structure in place, I am confident that CJF America is now better positioned than ever to achieve its mission. We are no longer dependent on external forces to make things happen; we are driving our future. This is an exciting time for our organization, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team that’s leading the charge.

Let’s continue to build something lasting, something that will not only serve the people in our communities but will inspire others to do the same.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment.

Together, we are building the future.

Kristen B. Picot, President | The Courtney Jordan Foundation in America