Biography
Jessica Espinoza's journey in labor started off as an SEIU Local 503 state employee while she earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science from Portland State University. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she spent the next 15 years working in various organized labor settings with workers across a variety of industries including state sector, healthcare, janitorial, as well as communications. Supplementing her union staff experience, Jessica has volunteered over the years with various worker education organizations focused on building & developing leadership among rank and file community and labor organizations. Her passion for learning continues as she pursues her Master's degree in Labor Studies with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In the fall of 2019, she joined the DePaul Labor Education Center as the Associate Director until the fall of 2021 and now serves as an instructor as well as an Advisory Committee member. Currently, she works in a leadership capacity with the Make the Road familia where she contributes to the development of a national platform unifying grass roots immigrant led community organizing efforts.