Durango, CO: **Jessica Morrison has been hired as the city’s new community engagement program manager, bringing to the role more than two decades of experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and community collaboration throughout Southwest Colorado.
“I believe local government works best when community members understand how they can participate and feel that there are meaningful opportunities for them to do so,” Morrison said. “My goal is to help create multiple ways for people to engage with the city, share their experiences and perspectives, and see how their participation contributes to the larger conversation about our community.”
A longtime member of the Durango and La Plata County community, Morrison steps into the role with a well-established record of building partnerships, expanding equitable access, and designing programs that connect people with opportunities.
Morrison’s new role with the city will focus on developing accessible, inclusive pathways for residents to engage with local government. She plans to build systems that allow more people, particularly those historically underrepresented in civic processes, to participate meaningfully.
In this role, Morrison will oversee the City’s community engagement programs, including public outreach strategies, engagement tools and platforms, and coordination with City departments to support public input on projects and initiatives. She will also help evaluate engagement efforts and identify opportunities to strengthen the City’s approach to community participation.
Morrison’s qualifications span K–12, higher education, state-level committees, and regional initiatives across Southwest Colorado. Most notably, Morrison served as the founding executive director of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, a rural partnership that united school districts, higher education institutions, and industry to expand pathways for students from high school to career. Under her leadership, the organization secured $7.3 million in regional investment and became a statewide model replicated across rural Colorado.
Morrison worked with TRiO Talent Search at Fort Lewis College, advising first‑generation and low‑income students in navigating college and career decisions. Morrison also co-built the Career and College Counseling Department at Animas High School, developing programs recognized by the Colorado Department of Education with two awards for innovation in student readiness.
Morrison has held several regional leadership roles, including scholarship chairwoman for the Colorado Council for High School and College Relations and steering committee member for Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days, where she contributed to state educational access initiatives and connected statewide grantmakers with our local nonprofit organizations and community leaders for rural funding access. She is also a graduate of Leadership La Plata and previously served as chairwoman of its curriculum committee.
Morrison's ties with the local community extend beyond her professional work. Her involvement includes work with Know Your Dough, a financial education nonprofit, and fostering animals for Lisa Parker’s Puppies. Through her consulting firm, JMorrison Education, she has continued to assist school districts, nonprofits, and community groups across the state with project design, stakeholder engagement, and equity‑driven implementation.
“Durango is my community too,” Morrison said. “I care deeply about this place and the people who live here. I’m excited to bring my experience into local government and help create opportunities for residents to learn, participate, be heard, and shape the future of our community.”
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Media Contact**Tom SluisPublic Information Officer Phone: (970) 375-5090Email: Tom Sluis