Jerrell Cox

President and CEO of United South End Settlements

Jerrell’s journey at USES started in 1994 when he and his two older brothers attended their first summer at Camp Hale. Each summer, he returned to camp, taking on more responsibilities, serving in various important roles in the camp community, and developing the foundation of his leadership. In 2003, Jerrell bridged his connection to USES and began working part-time as a group leader in the After School Program (ASP), now known as club48. Jerrell was promoted to Lead Group Leader and Assistant Preschool teacher within a year, serving in both core programs during the school year and going to Camp Hale in the summer. Within three years, he became the After School Site Coordinator and, in 2009, was promoted to Out of School Time Director, managing the ASP and Camp Hale programs. Jerrell served as the Camp Hale Director for the next ten years, leading the organization’s flagship program through an ambitious growth phase that included developing a girls’ program in a historically all-boys camp. From 2012 to 2018, he successfully implemented a program model that equaled the dosage for girls and boys, providing access to summer opportunities for over 220 youth. Additionally, he launched a capital campaign to match the program site to the quality of services provided. Over the course of 2 years, he secured $5.6 M for capital improvements to Camp Hale, ensuring the camp’s legacy for the next 100 years. In 2020, Jerrell was promoted to Vice President of Development and External Relations, where he secured the resources needed to provide innovative, top-quality programming to children and their families. Now, as Chief Executive Officer, Jerrell sets the vision and strategy for positioning United South End Settlements as the preeminent community-based organization in the Boston area. Jerrell is passionate about youth work and supporting people in reaching their full potential. He is an inspirational, charismatic leader, connector, and fearless advocate for social justice.