FoundersJessica D. Knox, JD Alonzo L. Knox, MBA Jessica D. Knox and Alonzo L. Knox have had rewarding careers as private/public servants by working for distinguished national nonprofit organizations, five elected officials, and an enlistment in the US Marine Corps, respectively. Throughout their service, they served with duty, honor, and unwavering leadership, gaining the respect of all those with whom they have come in contact.
After leading accomplished careers in Washington, DC and New York, Jessica and Alonzo Knox had a strong desire to return to their southern roots, spurred by the notion of a “new” and more progressive south than when they first left. Jessica is a native of Mississippi and Alonzo from the neighboring state of Louisiana. Because of their love for historic architecture and preservation, the couple settled in New Orleans, Louisiana. Upon arrival, they soon witnessed firsthand a city and State severely impoverished and plagued with crime and limited capacity to address these problems. One year later, the Institute of Community Development (ICD) was founded.
As founders of the Institute of Community Development (ICD), Jessica and Alonzo Knox are actively involved in issues of local and national concern, with a particular emphasis on community development, economic empowerment, education, and access to health care. ICD is an innovative nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to be an effective economic and social capital advocate that facilitates new ideas and approaches in pursuit of traditional Democratic ideals for underserved communities and the working poor in America.
Before co-founding ICD, Jessica led the Community Programs unit at the Louisiana Public Health Institute. She was responsible for guiding nine regional staff persons throughout Louisiana in their community outreach efforts. She also was effective in developing and implementing a grant program that distributed over a million dollars to community organizations throughout Louisiana.
Alonzo served as the Executive Director for the Children's Scholarship Fund – New York City program. Children's Scholarship Fund (CSF) is a national, privately funded organization that was founded in June 1998 by Ted Forstmann, senior partner of Forstmann Little & Co., a private investment firm, and John Walton of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Alonzo oversaw the day-to-day operation of the CSF-New York City program. He was responsible for a $14 million budget, as well as the administration of scholarships for more than 3,400 recipients attending over 500 private and parochial schools in New York City. Alonzo’s tenure was distinguished by a doubling in the size of the local New York City program, thereby making it the largest nationwide. The Program was further distinguished by having the largest number of at-risk, inner-city children and having the lowest attrition rate. Prior to being appointed as Executive Director, Alonzo was the Deputy Director of National Outreach for CSF.
As a staff attorney with Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland, Jessica represented and fought for the interest of neglected and abused children. In that capacity, she listened to the concerns of young people, parents, and social workers. She was responsible for assisting children with entering programs to avoid risky behaviors like drug and alcohol use, premature sexual activity, and violence. Jessica understood the importance of every child’s need to have an environment where they can thrive with access to adequate resources whether derived from natural parents, relatives, mentors, teachers, social workers, or foster parents.
In 1998, Jessica and Alonzo first met when they were program managers for the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), America’s oldest and most successful black higher education assistance organization. They were responsible for managing the overall day-to-day operation of over 80 scholarship programs and endowments for major Fortune 500 companies, foundations and individuals, with budgets totaling over $20 million. Their tenure at UNCF was marked by many notable accomplishments that included: restoring fiscal accountability, restructuring program evaluations and strengthening donor relationships.
Prior to joining UNCF, Alonzo worked in government by serving on the Washington, DC staff of United States Senator John Breaux as a Legislative Correspondent and an assistant to the Legislative Director/Tax Counsel. He was responsible for handling education, defense, and tax issues. In addition, Alonzo worked closely with the Legislative Director in carrying out the legislative agenda.Jessica, prior to UNCF, worked with the University of Maryland on a project funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation geared toward promoting volunteerism among retired medical professionals. She found the experience of combining her legal expertise to promote public health extremely rewarding. Jessica and Alonzo have had the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge and experience in the political process and in the administration of nonprofit organizations. Jessica is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and Tougaloo College, and Alonzo is a graduate of Trinity University with an MBA and Southern University-Baton Rouge campus. The Institute of Community Development is Jessica and Alonzo’s way of giving back to a community that has provided the foundation for their success and it is a means of improving the condition of underserved communities across the nation, particularly contributing to a “new” and more progressive South.
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