Heather Jones-Brown

Heather M. Jones-Brown (she/her/hers) is a Des Moines, Iowa, USA native and proud graduate of Des Moines’ East High School (‘02). As a student and young professional, Jones-Brown was active in organizations that laid the foundation for her life-long interests. 

She was introduced to citizen diplomacy through the Des Moines/Kofu Student Exchange in 1996 which led her to serve on the Sister Cities International Board of Directors as both a youth (‘02-’03) and young professional representative (‘05-’06). This also led her to an internship with the Sister City Association of Kansas City in 2005 and in 2019 she was the Executive Director of Iowa Sister States during a time of transition for the organization.

The values of the YMCA run deep in Jones-Brown from her first days at summer camp in 1994, to the old Riverfront pool, to the welcome center at the Grubb, and currently as a member of the Y-Camp advisory board. She believes deeply that the “Y” builds strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

At William Jewell College, Jones-Brown was an active member of the now defunct Unity Association. This group held discussion groups centered around diversity, inclusion, systemic racism, Black history, and curated events to bring people on campus together, such as the annual NPHC step-shows and Black History Month celebrations.

While Jones-Brown’s work path has never been linear, it has taken her to places that she never quite envisioned. She has jumped industries and locations, but each new adventure has brought learning opportunities from a multitude of individuals. Jones-Brown aided a South Korean company in starting their US branch in Kansas City, MO, helped video store owners across the United States enhance their stores through independent film, and spent four years in Tokyo, Japan teaching English along with various roles in the indie film industry.

Jones-Brown returned to the United States, specifically Iowa, in 2015 with one goal: to find ways to help eradicate systemic racism alongside uplifting communities of color. She spent most of 2016 assisting Betty Andrews, with work for the NAACP on state and local levels, planning both the Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities and the 19th Annual I’ll Make Me A World In Iowa.

Jones-Brown was the general manager for a local start-up, DSM Brew Coffee Co., through its first year of operation, until being hired as the Deputy Campaign Manager for Deidre DeJear’s historic run for Iowa Secretary of State in 2018, and the Financial Education Coordinator at the Financial Empowerment Center at the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.

Currently, Jones-Brown is the Assistant Chief Diversity Officer for Staff Equity at Grinnell College and volunteers with the non-profit, Vision Leads, to create stronger civic and community leaders.  As a diversity, equity, and inclusion expert with experience in international affairs, community connectivity, civil rights, and civic engagement, Jones-Brown has a deep understanding of the complexities and intersections involved in DEI within the global context.

A skilled networker and community builder, Jones-Brown excels at identifying opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and effectively bringing together diverse groups of people to work towards common goals. Jones-Brown is known for facilitating the exchange of ideas and resources in a manner that strengthens the community as a whole. Her community work includes the Urban Dreams Board (formerly), Executive Committee of the Des Moines Branch of the NAACP, Executive Committee of the Epsilon Theta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, Advisory Committee Chair for the Department of Modern Languages at Grand View University, New Leaders Council Des Moines Alumni, and the Advisory Board of the Greater Des Moines Y-Camp. She is also a 2020 graduate of the Community Leadership Program for Lead DSM (formerly the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute) and a 2020 Des Moines Business Record 40 Under 40 Honoree.