Hi, I'm Jess.

I'm a survivor and a lifelong seeker of healing and human development. Here's some of my story.

In 1993, when I was 12 years old, my sister Polly Klaas was kidnapped and murdered. Her death became a rallying cry that galvanized the nation and led to some of the harshest sentencing laws in American history, including California's Three Strikes law. At first, my family thought these laws would prevent what happened to her from happening to other kids. But over the years, I watched as they primarily incarcerated people of color for low-level crimes—the very opposite of the justice and safety they promised. I saw how tragedy could be exploited to advance a punitive agenda that had little to do with actual safety.

Through this journey, I've learned that while accountability is essential, punishment-focused approaches rarely create the lasting transformation we're hoping for. Real change happens through connection, understanding, and accountability—not punishment, shame, or control.

I was 12 years old when I was thrust into the harshness of reality—when I learned that the world isn't always safe, that terrible things happen to people we love, and that sometimes our best intentions create new forms of harm. Since then, I've been on a path of learning to live honestly and how to make the most of this precious, fragile life. The awareness that Polly didn't get to continue her life has made mine feel more sacred—and it's drawn me toward courage. Toward doing the things that stretch me, that help me grow and expand my capacity to be fully present and alive.

My healing journey has led me into group work, facilitation, and public speaking—places where I can transform pain into connection and possibility, both for myself and others.