Jean West Evans has worked in social services since she was 14 years old, beginning as a Red Cross Youth leader. She organized youth groups across the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. She later became the City-County Red Cross Youth President and organized the first youth-organized Child Immunization Project in the country. She was the first youth in the U.S. to teach Basic Volunteer Orientation for the American Red Cross. Jean holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Sociology/Psychology and Urban Studies, respectively and attended Law School.

She has served as a board member and in direct service, planning and Executive Director positions for many social service/health planning agencies including Big Brothers and Sisters, Margaret Hudson Program for School-Aged Parents, Oklahoma State Department of Health, and the Southwest Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities.

Prior to moving to Houston in 1998, Jean was Executive Director for the Tulsa Literacy Coalition. Jean began her association with the Emergency Aid Coalition as a board member, and has served in her current position as EAC Executive Director since 2001. During her tenure, Jean has initiated and facilitated numerous collaborative projects to benefit Houston’s neighbors in need.