Jerome Hunter

Jerome Hunter is an education leader and advocate committed to creating opportunities where diverse communities can thrive. A proponent of storytelling, Jerome partnered with the University of Washington to launch TEDx Ballard Youth, providing middle and high school students–particularly those from marginalized backgrounds–a platform to share their stories and reclaim their narratives. His collaboration with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, in partnership with the Gates Foundation, advanced restorative practices that build resilience and foster belonging.

As the founder of an independent middle school for boys, Jerome developed experiential curricula that elevated social-emotional growth alongside academic excellence. He believes that education must do more than inform–it must empower and liberate. Jerome’s work has been featured by TED, KUOW, and The Seattle Stories Project, and he was recognized as a Seattle Hometown Hero for his contributions within the community. His focus, however, remains on the work itself: leading workshops, co-creating strategies for empathy, belonging, and equity while challenging the status quo. In his free time, Jerome serves as an advisor to The Breakfast Group, supporting its mission to empower young men of color.