Dispatches: JustAction, LLC Promises Progressive Results, Experience

Jodi Hirsh has created a niche for herself in grassroots organizing and messaging in some of progressive politics’ most controversial subjects.

And now, after more than 15 years of experience at Planned Parenthood and the , she’s building her own consulting business named for one key goal—”JustAction, LLC."

“I just felt like it was time,” Hirsh of said. “I love working at and I love working for organizations, and I actually think by doing this on my own and having my own consulting shop, I can do that even more and help a broader cross-section of missions.”

While Hirsh has largely focused on women’s rights throughout her career, launching her own consulting over the past few weeks is allowing her to expand her scope of work, while at the same time, lending her experience to smaller organizations.

“I kind of figure if I can craft messages around abortion and LGBT issues and some of the other stuff I have done, then I can pretty much craft a message for anyone and any subject,” she said with a laugh. “Talking about abortion during the Bush years was uniquely difficult.”

With the tagline, “Progressive ideas, pragmatic solutions,” JustAction focuses on legislative strategies, coalition and community building, messaging, program development and more.

Formerly the executive director of the NCJW, Hirsh decided she was making the move a few months ago, gave notice, and started looking for independent contracts to get her started. Her new is just a few weeks old, but work already is moving forward.

“In a way, it’s like being able to focus intensely for short periods of time on projects, but being able to choose a broader range that includes women’s issues, environmental issues, sustainability and workers’ rights,” Hirsh said. “It allows me to take the experience I have gained in organizational formats and allows me to throw it out to a larger audience.”

As nonprofits have faced large budget cuts at the state and federal levels, Hirsh said JustAction is the type of small business that could help them get through the financial strains on different levels.

“Nonprofits’ critical missions are seeing their own funding get cut, and the way our society is with the lack of affordability in benefits and health insurance, for organizations to continue to be able to afford a full-time staff person becomes impossible,” Hirsh said. “Unfortunately, for those missions I care about—but fortunately for this business venture—if they can’t afford the same staffing levels, the automatic action for them is to go toward a contractor or consultant for the short-term, without bringing in the costs of a long-term associate.”

While starting her own consulting firm during a shaky economy is certainly a risk, Hirsch believes her reputation for results along with her extensive nonprofit experience will make JustAction the right choice for her career. In addition to her experience at NCJW, Hirsh also held a variety of roles at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.

“I think the stability of having a full-time job that a solid organization gives you is something you can’t have on your own, but I think my reputation helps me and I do have a good job on the projects I am working on and word of mouth will help me as well,” she said.

Currently, Hirsh is working on a project filling vacant judicial seats throughout the state. Right now, President Barack Obama has had more of his judicial nominations blocked than any president in history, Hirsch said.

The president makes nominations for judges on the federal bench, which need to be confirmed by the Senate. Hirsh is working to alleviate the resistance to those nominees in order to fill the vacancies.

“Justice delayed is justice denied, so vacancies that sit for months and months end up with unbelievable caseloads and there are three districts in Pennsylvania where I am working on getting them filled,” she said. “There are nominees for each of the three who are great and have bipartisan support, and there is no reason they are not being confirmed other than just gamesmanship.”

One of those districts is an emergency seat, which means the caseload is so overwhelming that none of them are currently being heard.

“That affects predominantly women and people of color the most because they have the least amount of resources to get their cases heard,” Hirsh said.

She also is working with Planned Parenthood Federation of America on the national security manual used for offices and clinics that offer abortion services across the country.

“The national organization provides guidance and resources to each local affiliate for having a secure facility, training and drilling, etc.,” Hirsh said. “There is a history of great violence and I was the security coordinator here. It’s one of those unique skills.”

Hirsh said as she builds her new client base, she looks forward to providing what she promises in her business’ name—JustAction—on all fronts.

“If you’re working for one organization, you still have your one issue in mind, which is great, but I think it is going to be really fun to sort of design work around issues that cover a wider range, and take the experiences I have to a wider range—it’s a more holistic sense of work,” she said. “And I don’t mind being able to work on my front porch, either.”

For more information or to contact Hirsch, visit http://www.justactionllc.com/, or visit the JustAction, LLC Facebook page here.