Jessica Ridge

Jessica Ridge (formerly Taubner) has been with UpTogether since 2014. First, as an Advisory Board member for the Boston site, from 2018-2019 as our Boston Site Director, and since 2020 she has been a Partnership Director. She developed and now provides strategic direction for the Trust and Invest Collaborative, a pilot project with the MA Department of Transitional Assistance to transform how cash assistance benefits are delivered. She is driving our systems change work in Massachusetts and Connecticut and leads the national Trust Youth Initiative effort, a cash+ guaranteed income pilot in several cities across the country. Ridge specializes in building deep, lasting partnerships that ensure those with a lived experience are part of leadership. Prior to joining UpTogether, she worked alongside then-Boston City Councilor At-Large, now Congresswoman Ayanna Presely, for eight years. First as policy director then as Chief of Staff. Jess is a mom, is building her somatic abolition skills, loves being in the woods, playing in the mud, and making art.