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Jessie Moore has been working with Richmond CASA for 12 years. She began as a Case Manager and continued on to be the Richmond CASA Program Director. Her determination, expertise, passion, and advocacy have made a huge difference for SCAN and many children and families in our community.
How did you first get involved with SCAN?
I had just moved back to Virginia from Georgia and was looking for a job. I saw the CASA Case Manager ad and knew it sounded like somewhere I wanted to be. While I was growing up, my dad worked for the Department of Criminal Justice Services which is the regulatory agency for CASA and he worked closely with Melissa O’Neill, the CASA State Coordinator. I asked him to put me in touch with her to learn more about the organization, and I was beyond thrilled when I was hired.
What has your life/work experience been that brought you to SCAN? What is your current role?
I have always known that my role in life is to help others, even as a little girl. I went to Longwood University with the intention of becoming a special education teacher as I had been a 1:1 aid for a child with Autism during high school. I realized fairly quickly that I wanted to do more and reach more people in need, so I switched my major to social work. My senior internship was with Project Hope in New Kent/Charles City where I worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I was offered a job there before graduation but life ended up taking me down a different path. I was hired as a case manager for CASA in 2011 and am now the Program Director.
What inspires you to stay involved with your work at SCAN?
So many things inspire me to continue this work. I am an empath by nature with a belief that it is our human duty to ensure social justice. My parents were both social justice warriors as I was growing up and it became part of who I am. I believe that people can make a difference in the lives of other people. I believe that SCAN makes a difference every day in many ways, and I am so grateful that I get to be part of that. I have always believed that children deserve to be safe and feel loved, but after I became a mother myself, I also realized that parents need to feel safe and loved in order to offer that to their children. It is a cycle, and if I can be part of breaking that cycle for even just a handful families, I will have made a lasting impact.
Is there anything you wish other people knew about SCAN?
I think that it is well known in Richmond that SCAN is a powerhouse in issues of child abuse and neglect. I wish that more people realized that’s not all we are: we are messengers, teachers, advocates, helping hands, prevention gurus. Everything we do is for the betterment of individuals whether it’s in their own lives after experiencing their own adverse childhood experiences, or because they are professionals working with children or adults who are living with trauma.
What has been the best experience with SCAN so far?
The people I’ve worked with and the culture of our organization. People who come to work with SCAN do so because it is in their heart and soul. Knowing that everyone I work with every day shares my passion for the work and for what is right and just makes it easier to do this challenging work. I can’t imagine working with a better group of people.
What are any challenges you have faced in your work with SCAN?
I think that being an empath is my greatest strength in this type of work and also my greatest challenge. Working with SCAN and the people who have helped guide me in this work have helped me learn how to feel for our clients without letting it get in the way.
Do you have any goals or hopes for the next year with SCAN?
My hope for the year ahead is simply that I am able to continue growing both myself and this organization.
Are you involved with any other community organizations, hobbies, or activities?
The greatest love of my life, outside my family, is horses and being at the barn. My 10 year old daughter and I take lessons and would live the barn life every day if we could! I also love to write- stories, novels, poems… this is the only area of my life I consider myself highly creative.
What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
Out of my 3 children, 1 is medically fragile and they all have chronic illnesses. It’s been a crazy rollercoaster for my family, but the lessons I’ve learned have been invaluable.
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