Meet Jevin Hodge | Business executive, non-profit leader, & Congressional candidate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jevin Hodge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jevin, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Professionally, I serve as the National Engagement Director for LINK Strategic Partners. In that capacity, I operate at the nexus between community institutions and their stakeholders. I help governmental, non-profit, and corporate clients solve today’s most urgent problems, like addressing the root causes of homelessness or expanding COVID vaccine availability.

Civically, I serve as the President of the Booker T. Washington Child Development Center, Arizona’s longest-running Head Start school. We serve hundreds of underprivileged children every year by providing them early childhood education.

Finally, as a candidate for the US Congress, I am working to ensure everyone in our community has an opportunity at a better life. The American dream is not lost–it is still with us. We need leaders who will fight to ensure students have access to quality education, that all Arizonans have high-quality, affordable healthcare, that we grow economy by creating high wage jobs and promoting homeownership, that we mitigate the effects of climate change and have clean air and water, and that we implement other real solutions to protect our people and future.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the most important factors to my success in the professional world, and something that I believe sets me apart, is the fact that I lead with love. Too often, we forget to utilize empathy in the processes of our employment. I have seen it happen in business and politics, and I know it happens to even the best doctors, engineers, and other professionals. It’s something that not everyone keeps top of mind; I go out of my way to correct for that because I know what it is like to live in public housing, survive on food stamps, pay student debts, and make tough choices to put food on the table for one’s family. I approach my work with an open mind and treat everyone with the dignity, respect, and kindness they deserve. Leading with love means feel love for myself, love for my work, love for the people I serve, and love for the change-making process. All of that results in me being my best self as a professional.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to hike; we are so fortunate to have our paradise in the desert and to be surrounded by dozens of opportunities to appreciate the beauty of the valley right in our own backyards. The Phoenix Zoo, local farmer’s markets, and the restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale all make our part of the valley an amazing place to spend a weekend, or a lifetime.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is a no-brainer. I have to give a shoutout to my mother–I owe her at least that much! She is my role model. She raised my brother and me by herself. She is also the first Black woman ever elected to public service in the history of Tempe. She taught me what it means to give back to our community and I am proud to follow in her footsteps to this day.

Website: JevinHodge.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jevinhodge

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jevinhodge/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JevinHodge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jevin%20hodge

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNesdauEeHLmGsO6girarJg