Our Team
Amanda August
Executive Director
Amanda joined the organization as the first ED in 2021, and oversees JSC’s growth and capacity building efforts, including the transition from a volunteer-based organization to a staffed entity. She has a Master’s in Social Justice and Community Organizing from Prescott College, Executive Leadership certificate in Social Impact from University of Pennsylvania and Professional Community and Economic Development certification from University of Delaware. Amanda has worked around the country for over a decade in non-profits, with special focuses on trauma-informed care, outdoor education & facilitation, and partnership development. As a Delaware native, she loves bicycling, interior decorating and cooking up big meals.
Shannon Sanders-Gray
Operations Manager
Born in Brooklyn, raised in New Jersey, and a Delaware resident since 2012 (and in Wilmington since 2016), Shannon brings a rich and varied background to her role as Operations Manager at Jefferson Street Center. After more than 20 years as a scientist, she made a strategic shift to project management, joining Jefferson Street Center as a contract employee in 2023 before stepping into the full-time Operations Manager role in 2024. Shannon's focus includes strategic planning, developing SOPs, and overseeing the development, implementation, and management of Jefferson Street Center's initiatives.
Beyond her professional life, Shannon is a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. These roles have helped shape her skills in time management and organization, which she applies daily to ensure the Center’s operations run smoothly.