BPI Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Webster

Welcome to a new blog series in which we’re highlighting former BPI staff, fellows, interns, and directors to see what they’re doing now. First up, Jessica Webster.

Affiliation with BPI
2003-2004 Polikoff Gautreaux Fellow; 2005-2006 Policy Analyst

Current Position
Staff Attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

Fun fact about yourself
I started taking cello lessons when I left BPI, and I recently performed ‘The Nutcracker” with our local symphony orchestra.

In what ways did your experience at BPI influence your career path? The staff at BPI is brilliant and tenacious, and I am forever grateful for my PGF experience. I departed BPI with a more polished and nuanced approach to public policy innovation, and I am still a believer in BPI’s strategic use of research, coalition building, lobbying, and litigation. BPI also ignited my desire to be a lawyer, and I appreciate having access to the Courts when the Legislature fails to act.

What is your favorite memory of your time spent at BPI? In advocating the Builders’ Appeal Act, we prepared and stuffed nearly 5,000 testimonial letters regarding the need for more affordable housing. Without too much planning, we commandeered the BPI conference rooms for a week, exhausted the office supplies, and broke the printers and copy machines at various points. Many people in the office were irritated, except that the sight of our work in the conference room was too awesome to condemn.

What is the most interesting non-work related endeavor you’re doing now? I play women’s ice hockey in Minnesota for a team called Victorious Secret.

What motivates you to keep working in the public interest? Knowing change is possible.