ACES Welcomes Executive Director Jazmin Danielson
ACES is thrilled to announce Jazmin Danielson as its next Executive Director! As the organization prepares to celebrate its milestone 30th anniversary, Jazmin steps in to lead the next chapter in ACES’s work to close the academic opportunity gap and prepare students for success.
Watch this short video for welcome message from Ken Fairchild. Chair of the ACES Board of Directors, and to hear Jazmin’s introduction message for the ACES community.
Jazmin brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in nonprofit leadership and youthwork. From 2014-2019, she served as Executive Director of Beyond Walls, a Twin Cities nonprofit working to advance youth development using the racquet sport of squash, academic mentoring, college-readiness and exposure opportunities. Beyond Walls promotes education enrichment, health and wellness, and civic leadership through year-round out-of-school time programming for middle and high school students from low-income communities. During her time with Beyond Walls, Jazmin built meaningful partnerships, strengthened organizational stability, and oversaw impressive program growth.
Jazmin has also overseen safety and compliance for the University of Minnesota’s more than 300 precollege youth programs across the state, and spent 14 years in direct service and executive leadership at East Side Neighborhood Services. She currently develops and leads trainings with Search Institute, bringing her youth development and equity expertise to schools, nonprofits, and other organizations across the country and beyond.
In addition to her dedication to youth development, Jazmin is passionate about sport, athletics and the intersection of community impact. She teaches sports ethics and leadership, and event and facility management as an adjunct professor in the University of Minnesota’s Sports Management and Kinesiology Department, and has co-led Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion trainings for coaches around the world as a Culture Coordinator with Major League Soccer and The Sanneh Foundation, and coaches middle school basketball!
“ACES has grown tremendously in size and impact during my twenty years as a supporter,” said Dale Peterson, former Board Chair and Life Director. “The demand for ACES’s programming has also continued to grow. Jazmin is the leader who will help take the organization to new heights, making a measurable and lasting impact for the next generation of students.”
“Jazmin has spent her career working to build a better future for young people,” said Ken Fairchild, ACES Board Chair. “She stood out in a competitive field of candidates both for her impressive experience and knowledge, as well as her proven vision and drive. I know I speak for the entire Board of Directors when I say we are honored to welcome her and eager to partner with her in advancing ACES’s mission.”
Welcome, Jazmin!