Jeniece Jones is the new CEO of Caracole, an organization committed to changing lives in the fight against HIV/AIDS through prevention, housing and care.
Caracole’s board of directors selected Jones following a national search. In announcing her selection, the board highlighted her strong background in social justice organizations as making her “well-equipped to champion Caracole’s mission.”
Most recently Jones served as the executive director of the Public Justice Center in Baltimore. However, the bulk of her two-decade career has been spent leading or supporting organizations based in Greater Cincinnati.
As Caracole’s chief executive, Jones will oversee the organization’s operations and play a critical role in steering its strategic direction. She’ll play a hand-on role in various business operations as well, including fundraising, advocacy, community engagement, programming and stakeholder relations as well.
Jones will assume her new role on Dec. 4. She’ll succeed Linda Seiter, who served in the role for over 20 years and retired on Oct. 4, 2024.
“I’m excited to join Caracole at this important moment,” said Jones, a graduate of both West Virginia University and Northern Kentucky University.
“My focus will be on building strong partnerships, advancing advocacy, and expanding prevention efforts to promote health equity,” she continued. “Together with the community, we’ll ensure that people living with or at risk for HIV receive the care, housing, and support they need to thrive.”
A homecoming for Jones
Jones brings deep expertise in affordable housing and homelessness prevention, said Mark Haggard, Caracole’s board president.
In Baltimore, Jones headed a team of over 30 legal professionals at the Public Justice Center. Under her leadership, the center expanded its use of legal impact tools to promote economic justice and racial equity. Jones advocated for reforms that recognized housing as a human right, health equity, workplace justice, and the right to legal counsel. She also worked to address the school-to-prison pipeline.
Before joining the Public Justice Center, Jones was the executive director of Housing Opportunities Made Equal and Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati, both based in Cincinnati. Jones has served on the boards of Cincinnati Affordable Housing Advocates and the Human Services Chamber of Hamilton County. She was also on the steering committee for Housing Our Future, the Greater Cincinnati Comprehensive Housing Plan.
According to the hiring announcement, Haggard cited Jones’ commitment to Caracole’s values – unconditional inclusivity, relentless advocacy, practical innovation, absolute accountability, and radical optimism – as a key factor in her selection for the role.
“We are delighted to welcome Jeniece Jones as CEO of Caracole,” he continued. “She is an innovative, proven, values-driven leader whose depth of experience and vision will lead our organization into its next chapter, positively impacting the lives of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS in the Greater Cincinnati Region.”
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.