Staff and Board Take Action

Jenni Thurston

Intern / Fellow

MSW Intern

Jenni Thurston

Jenni Thurston is a University at Buffalo Master of Social Work intern at PPG. Her primary areas of focus include the intersections of mental illness, substance use disorders, and poverty in the criminal justice and family policing systems. As foster care alumnus, Jenni’s long-term goals include confronting systemic inadequacies and harmful policy that violates Article 16(3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.”

Jenni holds a Bachelor’s in English from Buffalo State University. Her writing has been featured in several publications such as My Next Heart: New Buffalo Poetry and Peach Mag. Her chapbook, Gin, which explores intergenerational substance use and intimate partner violence, was published by CWP Press in 2016.

Jenni’s previous work includes advocating for and assisting in the reunification of families separated by the child welfare system, as well as providing childcare, material support, and linkages to community resources for caregivers attending to court matters in Erie County Family and Buffalo City Courts.

In her free time, Jenni loves to dance with her daughter, eat with her husband, laugh with friends, and reminisce with family.