Staff member
Title

biography

Jan Tompkins
Executive Director

Jan launched United Divas in 2001 with a group of girlfriends who were also artists who brought together several creative disciplines to accomplish their craft. By 2003, they had developed into a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit. The first program she launched through United Divas was "Diva of the Month", which was meant to spotlight women artists and create a place for people to find female role models. 2007 marks their newest program, the Creative Scholarship fund, created so children from low-income households may continue a higher education in the arts. She is also planning to launch a mentor program for women artists. She mainly focuses on fundraising, recruiting new artists and helpers as well as designing and maintaining the website and promotional collatoral.

As the art director of Shouted Whisper, an online magazine that gives a voice to both loud and quiet topics, Jan wanted to take a simple literary publication to the next level by pairing fine artists, photographers and designers with writers and poets. She also played the role of layout artist for many of the magazine's pages. Each issue of the magazine will have a unifying theme, such as Women, which was the theme for the first issue, in honor of United Divas. Issue 001 is viewable online and available to print in .pdf format through the website as well. shoutedwhisper.com

Jan's career is that of a designer and animator for television and film. She also does some work in print and web formats as well. She studied at Otis College of Art and Design and takes occasional classes through the UCLA Extensions program for both writing and non-profit purposes. Her hobbies include djaying, writing, playing with her dogs and travelling. She resides in Los Angeles with her boyfriend and two dogs.

Jane Clark Jackson
Director

Jane Jackson has over 20 years experience working for non profits as a grant writer, fundraiser and administrator. With a background in the health care field as a nurse midwife, she has worked in support of organizations that benefit families and children, especially those who are marginalized due to low incomes, lack of advantages, and other challenges. In the 1980's she edited the New American Pocket Medical Dictionary and published The Whole Nurse Catalog. She is an avid knitter and quilter and after September 11, 2001, co-founded United We Quilt, an organization that matched over 500 volunteer quilters with families who lost loved ones on 9/11 who requested personalized memory quilts as keepsakes to honor their loved ones. Jane now lives and works in Bayonne, N.J., where she directs a non profit storefront social service agency that houses a food pantry, thrift shops, and social service outreach. She has been married for 32 years to Blyden Jackson, a writer, and is the proud mother of Aaron, a poet, and Gail, a drawer and musician. Creating and strengthening family ties, both with the family she was blessed to be given, and with the family she meets in her daily life, is her particular brand of artistic creativity.

She has been on the United Divas Board for over a year, serving on the editorial review committee for United Divas' publication, Shouted Whisper, and as fundraising consultant. She was drawn to United Divas because of her lifelong support of the arts, especially women artists who have difficulty reaching a broader audience, and because of the mission to support, mentor, and advocate for beginning artists. She believes that art, in all its varied forms, from the drawings of preschoolers, to the work of the most accomplished and well known artists, is a necessity of life for everyone, nurturing the soul and adding depth and beauty to our daily lives.

Shari Ramsey
Secretary & Treasurer

Shari Ramsey served in the United States Air Force for 23 years as a Logistics Manager and retired with honors in June 2003. She was born in Sacramento, California and grew up as a military brat. Her travels as a dependent or while on active duty took her across the globe to places such as; Clark AB, Philippines - Offutt AFB, Nebraska (Omaha) - KI Sawyer AFB, Michigan (Gwinn) - Lackland AFB, Texas (San Antonio) - Lowry AFB, Colorado (Denver) - Kirtland AFB, New Mexico (Albuquerque) - McChord AFB, Washington (Tacoma) - Rhein Main AB, Germany (Frankfurt) - Travis AFB, California (Fairfield) - Orlando, Florida - San Diego, California - Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia - Kadena AB, Okinawa.   

She relocated to Travis AFB, California in January 1995 and quickly made an impact that ensured the opportunity to exploit her leadership and management capability. She was handpicked by Senior Leadership for (5) different job-challenges throughout her tenure with the Supply Squadron, known for her no nonsense business approach, Shari clearly demonstrated what effect superior leadership and management skills can produce and bring to the forefront.  With each challenge, she rose to the occasion and surpassed expectations with ease. 

At the pinnacle of her success, Shari's efforts were recognized and rewarded by earning a STEP promotion to the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer rank of Master Sergeant. Her military awards include the Air Force Meritorious Service Award, Air Force Commendation (received five times), the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (received seven times), the National Defense Medal, with a Joint Military Unit Award and more importantly the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (received six times).

Shari has an Associates Degree in Logistics and a Bachelor's Degree in Workforce Education and Development w/a Specialization in Training and Development. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Human Resource Management.

She has been married to Jack W. Ramsey III for 15 years. They have four children. Their daughter (29) is a graphic designer, the oldest son (23) has his own lawn maintenance/landscaping business, the middle son (21) is in the Air Force, and the youngest son (17) is in high school.

Shari believes in contributing to her community, especially fellow soldiers and their families. Shari has been involved with United Divas since September 2004 and fills the positions of Treasurer and Secretary. She developed a Continuity Book that pertains to non-profits and their organizational structure for United Divas while completing her internship with Southern Illinois University. She has also supported the Fisher House by preparing hot meals for families of critically ill members and organizing the Annual Toys for Tots Drive. Another way she helped over the years was by coordinating quarterly functions/outings for elderly retired military veterans and their spouses.

Aaron Jackson
Writer & Editor

Aaron Jackson is an author, editor and performer. He is the former Poet Laureate of Jersey City, NJ and a two-time recipient of grants from the Puffin Foundation. Jackson has seen his poetry published in numerous periodicals and on a variety of websites. As a performer, Jackson has read his work throughout the country including The Nuyorican Poets Café, Da Poets Lounge, Bar 13 and The Waterbug Hotel. Jackson has made a number of appearances on television, most notably writing and performing in his own national anti-smoking advertisement sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

Jackson has worked as an editor for a number of publications, most recently as editor in chief of Shouted Whisper which can be viewed at www.shoutedwhisper.com. As a part of his program Middlepoetry in the schools, Aaron has visited a number of rural and inner-city schools to promote self-expression through poetry to children and teens.

Born in New York City as the first child of a bi-racial couple, Jackson grew up amidst the green mountains of Vermont where he attended the University of Vermont to study English. After finishing up school in New Jersey, Jackson lived in the New York City area immersed in the local poetry scene. Currently Jackson lives in Los Angeles with his girlfriend and their two dogs, where he is working on a collection of his poetry.