Executive Director

Message from the

Our community is changing, and so are we.

At Step Up for Better Living, our commitment is simple: meet people where they are and move forward together.

As Executive Director, I’m proud to share our strategic vision and a thoughtful restructuring of our services and mission to better serve you.

Our Pillars More Information About Jessica Cordova Our community is changing, and so are we.
At Step Up for Better Living, our commitment is simple: meet people where they are and move forward together. As Executive Director, I’m proud to share our strategic vision and thoughtful restructuring of our services and mission to better serve you.
What’s changing—and why it matters

This is more than an update—it’s a promise. With trust and compassion as our foundation, innovation as our engine, and a solution-driven mindset as our compass, we will deliver services that are easier to access, easier to navigate, and more effective for everyone.

Thank you for stepping up with us. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate, and solution-driven future for our community.

We’re consolidating services into clear pathways so our participants can navigate support without repeating their story or losing momentum.
 A streamlined service model. Integrated intake and care navigation. One stop shop, coordinated follow-through, and warm handoffs across services and partner agencies. Data-focused We are committed to monitoring outcomes that matter most—resource access, participant satisfaction, timeliness, and long-term impact—and leveraging these insights to guide ongoing improvements. Community voice at the center. Advisory councils and regular feedback loops will shape our priorities, design, and delivery.

Her leadership is marked by the ability to bring people together—staff, interns, partners, and community members—to co-create solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term goals. With lived experience as her foundation, Jessica champions models of service that are accessible, innovative, and effective, ensuring that every individual is met with dignity and respect.

She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders through internships and mentorship, fostering environments where future professionals can gain the tools and confidence they need to succeed. Known for her warmth, collaborative spirit, and relentless drive, Jessica embodies the belief that progress happens when people step up together. About Jessica Cordova Jessica Cordova serves as the Executive Director , where she leads with a vision rooted in trust, compassion, innovation, and solution-driven action.

Born and raised in the Bronx, and proud to be a first-generation professional, Jessica’s journey has been one of resilience, determination, and heart. Becoming a mother at a young age, she learned early the importance of perseverance and hustle—qualities that fueled her climb up the ladder in her career in operations and leadership. Over the years, she built a strong track record of guiding teams, streamlining processes, and driving organizational growth—all while staying deeply connected to the people her work serves.

Open Step Up’s doors to the South Bronx community by partnering with charter schools, DOE schools, and local daycares to provide mental health resources, HRA support, and accessible family services. Expanding Community Reach Deliver Quality Counseling & Case Management Provide counseling and case management services that support families, individuals, andchildren with cognitive and mental health needs, promoting sustainability and preserving family unity. Develop Professional Pathways Across All Levels of Education Create a safe learning space for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to gain internship experience and hands-on skills in human services, social work, marketing, and communications — preparing them for careers, higher education, and leadership opportunities. Foster Community Engagement & Programming Expand educational, social, and cultural programming for all stages of life — from early childhood through seniors — while creating intergenerational programs that strengthen community ties and shared learning across generations.

KPI's
• Establish 5 new formal partnerships
annually with local charter schools, DOE schools, or daycares.

• Provide mental health resources to 100 families annually.

• Facilitate HRA support sessions for 50 households per year.

• Increase overall program enrollment by 20% year-over-year.

 Goal: Open Step Up’s doors to the South Bronx community by partnering with charter schools, DOE schools, and local daycares to provide mental health resources, HRA support, and accessible family services. Key Performance Indicators KPI's
• Deliver 150+ counseling sessions annually across individuals, children, and families.

• Maintain ≥75% attendance rate for ongoing counseling sessions.

• Provide case management services to 100 households annually.

• Ensure 70% of families report improved coping skills or stronger family unity in post-service
surveys.

• Develop individualized support plans for 90% of families engaged in case management.

• Train 100% of counseling staff annually in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. LEARN MORE KPI's 1. Expand Community Reach Goal: Provide counseling and case management services that support families, individuals, and children with cognitive and mental health needs, promoting sustainability and preserving family unity. 2. Quality Counseling & Case Management • Recruit 10 high school interns annually through DOE and charter school partnerships.

• Provide career exploration workshops each semester.

• FEnsure 70% of high school interns pursue higher education, vocational training, or career pathways within one year.

• Increase overall program enrollment by 20% year-over-year.

 High School Internships Goal: Create a safe learning space for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to gain internship experience
and hands-on skills in human services, social work, marketing, and communications — preparing them for careers, higher education, and leadership opportunities. Key Performance Indicators Graduate Internships • Guarantee 100% of graduate interns receive required supervision hours for academic or
licensure credit.

• Host 5–7 graduate-level interns annually (MSW, counseling, nonprofit management).

• Achieve ≥4.5/5 satisfaction rating from graduate interns in exit surveys.
 Cross-Cutting KPI's LEARN MORE KPI's 3. Develop Professional Pathways Across All Levels of Education • Organize an annual Internship Showcase where interns present projects and impact to partners.

Achieve 70% post-internship placement rate (employment, higher education, or continued professional training).

• Build and maintain 3 formal internship pipelines with schools, colleges, and graduateprograms. • Recruit 10–12 undergraduate interns annually in human services, social work, psychology,
and communications.

• Ensure 80% of undergraduate interns complete their internships successfully.

• Track that 65% transition to related jobs, further study, or leadership roles within 12 months. Undergraduate Internships • Host monthly family/child development workshops with at least 20 participants.

• Partner with schools/daycares to run 4 enrichment programs annually.

 Early Childhood & Adolescents Goal: Expand educational, social, and cultural programming for all stages of life — from early childhood through seniors — while creating intergenerational programs that strengthen community ties and shared learning across generations. Key Performance Indicators Adults & Families • Deliver 6 family resource events annually (health fairs, HRA navigation, financial wellness).

• Ensure ≥75% of invited households participate in family-focused programming.
 Seniors & Intergenerational LEARN MORE KPI's 4. Foster Community Engagement & Programming • Run 4 intergenerational programs annually (field trips, arts, cultural exchange).

• Engage 50+ seniors annually in programming.

• Collect 75 feedback surveys per year from seniors and families to measure intergenerational impact. • Provide quarterly skill-building workshops (career readiness, financial literacy, wellness).

• Host 2 networking/community events annually for young professionals. Young Adults & Professionals

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