Jessi Snyder

Jessi Snyder is the Program Director for Community Development at Self-Help Enterprises (SHE) with expertise in rural infrastructure, especially small water systems. Her primary responsibilities include managing staff who work with rural communities to identify and solve water and wastewater-related issues and managing consultant contracts to perform design and other critical functions in water/wastewater project implementation. She has extensive experience in managing communitywide projects from the installation of wells and distribution facilities to the individual household connection to new infrastructure.

After 15 years of service as a Community Development Specialist and Manager, Jessi assumed the role of Director of SHE’s Community Development program, including multiple technical assistance contracts with the State Water Resources Control Board. She also engages in development of state and federal legislation, working with coalitions of partner organizations to advocate for effective, fair policies that promote the human right to water in California and nationwide.

A community leader since 2008, she has worked on many notable projects, including: Allensworth Safe Drinking Water Project which achieved safe drinking water for their community; Alpaugh Arsenic Remediation Project which conducted an extensive pilot study for arsenic treatment technology; West Goshen Water System Consolidation Project which resulted in an emergency consolidation with California Water Service; and the East Porterville Emergency Drought Consolidation Project which connected more than 750 households to the newly extended Porterville water system.

Her volunteer and prior work experience include the following: Volunteer Fire Lookout, Sequoia National Forest/Kings Canyon National Park (2011-current); English Teacher, Oaxaca, Mexico (2005-2006); and, Health Extension Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps, Malawi, Africa (2003-2005).

She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Social Relations from Earlham College and is a Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Scholar.