In her role, Shanee helped cities implement community change in an inclusive and sustainable way, utilizing the Collective Impact Approach at the core of their vision and work.
Shanee Helfer joined Living Cities in August 2016 as the Senior Associate for Collective Impact, bringing 10 years of experience in the non-profit and public sectors.
Beginning her career in economic and community development with the City of New Brunswick, NJ, Shanee has an extensive background in designing and implementing innovative programs and initiatives. At United Way and the Council on Foundations, she worked to increase the adoption of the Collective Impact Approach by place-based grant makers, including nationwide Community Foundations and United Way chapters in the NYC Tri-State Region.
Before joining Living Cities, Shanee was with the City of New York implementing the Jobs-Plus program, bringing her experience and passion for impacting communities through systems-change to the forefront of work of an inter-agency collaboration focused on increasing wages and financial self-sufficiency for residents of public housing.
In her diverse roles in the non-profit and public sectors, Shanee worked to elevate awareness and usage of the Collective Impact approach. She continues to be inspired and motivated by the evolution and growth of organizations and individuals she has actively worked with.
Shanee holds a Masters Degree in Urban Affairs from CUNY, Hunter College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a Certification in Public Sector Performance Measurement from Rutgers University. She resides in Jersey City, NJ where she is fulfilling her passion of urban gardening and supporting local food entrepreneurs in the farm to table movement.