Jessica Harris

Jessica Harris is an interdisciplinary theatre artist who seeks to uplift undertold stories and vitalize the human spirit.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Empowered Players, a 501(c)3 arts education nonprofit based in Fluvanna and Charlottesville. Through EP, she directs and provides yearlong accessible arts programs for K-12 students, and her TEDx Talk titled “The Transformative Power of Theater in Rural Communities” highlights her work.

Jessica Harris is also the Assistant Director of Community Research at the Center for Community Partnerships at UVA. She is a descendant of enslaved communities in Central Virginia, including those at Monticello and UVA, and she currently serves as board president for the Descendants of Enslaved Communities of Virginia.

She is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Out of School Learning, and her work is situated at the intersection of community engagement, education, and arts and place-based praxis.