Meet Jordan Grieser
Program Manager for Connections
Explain your position at Project Harmony.
I supervise half of the Mental Health Coordinators within the Connections program here at Project Harmony. The Mental Health Coordinators are on the front lines working with families and schools to make sure children are able to access quality mental health services and I provide the coordinators with the support they need to do this work. I also have the opportunity to work on program development - recruiting and contracting with the talented therapists within our community who provide the service to our clients.
What led you to work at Project Harmony?
I started volunteering at Project Harmony just after it opened and when I was still in high school. Even back then I would say working at Project Harmony was my dream job, but I was fortunate to have other valuable work experience before I was hired at Project Harmony. Prior to working at Project Harmony, I was a Douglas County Attorney in the Juvenile Division for five years and loved the work but eventually began to realize that I wanted to be more involved in prevention and helping families access services before court involvement. When the opportunity with Connections opened up, I knew that it was exactly what I had been looking for.
Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to work at Project Harmony or a mentor who has helped the most in your career.
I have been lucky enough to have had two very important mentors in my career. The first is Jim Jansen who was the Douglas County Attorney when Project Harmony came into existence and he was one of the founding board members. He was also a very good family friend. It was his encouragement that led me to start volunteering at Project Harmony way back in the early days of the organization. He has given me invaluable advice over the years that has led me to this job I love. Amela Zeljkovic was another very important mentor to me. She had been a judge in Bosnia who came to Omaha during the war there. She was my first real boss and taught me so much about what it means to be a good professional and a good person. Amela passed away 10 years ago but I still think about her nearly every day and the lessons she taught me.
When you are not working, how do you enjoy spending your time?
When I am not working I like to hang out with my husband, Adam, and our three-year-old son, Charlie. We are also lucky to have both of our extended families in town and a great circle of friends to keep us busy!
What is the one thing you are most proud of about your job?
The thing I am most proud of in my job is helping to develop a broad pool of really talented providers to serve our clients.
Favorite quote.
The youth of our nation are the clearest mirror of our performance." - Robert Kennedy
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