Inside Business 2022 Women in Business: Jewel Cooper, United Methodist Family Services

Job title: Regional director, United Methodist Family Services.

At work: As a regional director for United Methodist Family Services, I provide leadership and overall program management of community-based services delivered in the Tidewater region, including treatment foster care, family care, adoption, integrated behavioral health and agency-wide leadership of adoption services.

Volunteer activities: In the past, I have served as a recreational cheerleading coach for the city of Chesapeake. For three years, I served as a private provider representative on Norfolk’s Community Assessment Team, a group of community public and private providers that collaborate with families to develop plans to meet the needs of at-risk youth. I have also served as a member of the Eastern Region’s Kinship Collaborative group of licensed child placing agencies dedicated to implementing a specialized model of treatment foster care that improves outcomes by placing children who are in the foster care system in licensed kinship homes. Currently, I serve as a member of the hospitality team at Favor Nation Church in Chesapeake where I welcome and receive church visitors. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., whose purpose is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, alleviate challenges facing girls and women and to be of service to mankind.

Home and family: I reside with my husband of 36 years, Christopher Cooper. We have two children, Christopher Jr. and Candace, and our grandson, Tristin. I grew up in Norfolk and now reside in Chesapeake. I have six siblings and a host of nieces and nephews.

Motivating factor: I am motivated by a desire to see youth in stabilized homes where they can grow and feel loved and supported. I see my career as a ministry more than a job.

Advice for women in business: Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate. Collaboration will allow you to hear other points of view, to assist and mentor others and, most of all, have a greater impact on society.

The one thing I would change about Hampton Roads: I would love to see more prevention programs geared toward empowering families to overcome adversity.

Professional goal in five years: To continue to make contributions to the human service field with the goal of youth in the foster care system remaining connected to family. This will increase the likelihood of youth being placed with their siblings, have less potential for behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders and experience fewer school disruptions than children in non-kin foster care.

Downtime: I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my family (natural and work) and friends. Over the years, I have learned that relationships are what’s important, and I am so appreciative of the family and friends that God has placed in my life.

What really gets under my skin: Dishonesty and the mistreatment of youth.