Jim Barrens

Jim Barrens

Training Consultant/BEST Initiative Coordinator

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Current
  • Training Consultant/BEST Initiative Coordinator at JWB Children's Services Council
Past
  • Executive Director at The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies
  • Manager of Training Programs and Senior Instructor at Tech Data Education
  • Lead Organizer at Congregations United for Community Action
Education
  • American University
  • Westhampton Beach HS
Connections
80 connections
Industry
Civic & Social Organization
Websites

Jim Barrens’s Summary

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

JIM BARRENS

A native of New York, Mr. Barrens lived and was educated in the Washington, D.C. area for almost 20 years before moving to St. Petersburg in 1991. In metropolitan Washington, he directed 2 hunger relief programs for an interfaith organization and became active in national and international organizations promoting hunger relief and human rights.


Mr. Barrens' local community involvements have included:

- Leadership Florida, Class XII
- Executive Director, Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, Saint Leo University
- Executive Director and Lead Organizer- Congregations United for Community Action
- Manager, Training Programs and Senior Instructor, Tech Data Education
- Director, St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank
- Executive Committee Member, African-American Voters Research and Education Committee
- Board Member, Concerned Organizations for Quality Education for Black Students
- Member, District Monitoring and Advisory Committee, Pinellas County Schools
- Member, Pinellas Interfaith Committee, National Conference for Community and Justice
- Founder, GLEAN ST. PETE, the community citrus harvest
- Coordinator, St. Petersburg CROP Walk against hunger
- Advisory Board Member, Bishop John C. Favalora's Project Hunger
- Board of Directors, Tampa Bay Inner-City Youth Tennis Academy
- Board of Trustees, Temple Beth-El
- Parish Council, St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church

Mr. Barrens is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. Among them are the Hadassah Myrtle Wreath Award and the Mayor's Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice. In 1996 he was presented with the "Best of the Bay Award" by The Weekly Planet newspaper for championing ethics in the Tampa Bay community.

Jim Barrens’s Specialties:

Grassroots Community Organizing
Training


Jim Barrens’s Experience

  • Training Consultant/BEST Initiative Coordinator

    JWB Children's Services Council

    (Government Agency; 51-200 employees; Professional Training & Coaching industry)

    October 2006Present (2 years 2 months)

    The nation’s first county-wide agency utilizing dedicated property tax revenue to better the lives of children and families.

  • Executive Director

    The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies

    (Educational Institution; 5001-10,000 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

    July 2003October 2006 (3 years 4 months)

    A collaboration of Saint Leo University and the American Jewish Committee

  • Manager of Training Programs and Senior Instructor

    Tech Data Education

    (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

    March 1997August 2001 (4 years 6 months)

    The education arm of Tech Data Corporation, the world’s second largest distributor of computer products.

  • Lead Organizer

    Congregations United for Community Action

    (Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

    March 1993March 1997 (4 years 1 month)

    A non-profit, interfaith coalition of 37 congregations addressing social justice issues in St. Petersburg, Florida.


Jim Barrens’s Education

  • American University

    Sociology 19731977

  • Westhampton Beach HS

    19681972


Additional Information

Jim Barrens’s Websites:

Jim Barrens’s Interests:

"Organizing Powerful Groups", also know as "The Fundamentals of Grassroots Community Organizing I, II, and III", is a comprehensive training program covering all aspects of grassroots community organizing. The curriculum is offered free of charge to any legitimate grassroots community organization. The program is modular, and can range from a broad 60 minute overview on the subject to a 5-day intensive experiential workshop. Designed for community groups, congregations, neighborhood and block clubs, school groups, or any size group that is committed to social justice. Also can be used as an effective tool for non-profit organizational development, leadership and board development, marketing, outreach, and fundraising. For additional information on "Organizing Powerful Groups", or to review all our organizing resources, please visit The Justice Factory website.

Jim Barrens’s Groups:

Leadership Florida Class XII,
The African American Voters Research and Education Committee,
Concerned Organizations for Quality Education for Black Students,
District Monitoring and Advisory Committee Member, Pinellas County Schools,
Founder, GLEAN ST. PETE, the community citrus harvest,
St. Petersburg CROP Walk against hunger.

  •    The Tech Data Alumni Network

Jim Barrens’s Honors:

The Hadassah Myrtle Wreath Award,
The Mayor's Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice,
The "Best of the Bay Award" by The Weekly Planet newspaper for championing ethics in the Tampa Bay community.


Jim Barrens’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

  • consulting offers
  • job inquiries
  • expertise requests
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

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