Jennifer Kottler

Campaign Director

Reverend Jennifer Kottler joined CJC in July 2008 as the Campaign Director for Illinois Works for the Future. Prior to coming to CJC, Jennifer served as the Executive Director of the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, a campaign that has worked since 2004 to raise the minimum wage to the level of a living wage.  Additionally, Jennifer is the former Deputy Director of Protestants for the Common Good in Chicago, where she worked at the city, state, and federal level for strong public policies to achieve greater racial, social, gender, and economic justice.  An experienced organizer and lobbyist, Jennifer received her M.Div. from the Divinity School of The University of Chicago in June 2003 and is ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

A widely sought-after speaker and consultant in the area of faith-based legislative advocacy and activism, Jennifer serves as a trainer for Wellstone Action, Sojourners, and the Willow Creek Association.  She also is the Senior Advisor for Domestic Poverty for the Disciples Center for Public Witness in Washington, DC.  She has spoken at numerous conferences, in congregational settings, and at other events across the U.S. and throughout the world.

Jennifer served as teacher, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and case manager for persons with disabilities in Fairfax County, Virginia for 10 years, having earned an M.A. in Special Education from the George Washington University in 1995. She has a B.A. from Bethany College (WV) with a major in psychology.  Her passion is working on issues that impact low-income families.