New COS is former project director for the Cleveland Foundation and St. Luke’s Foundation

Kimalon Dixon, a veteran executive in the nonprofit arena, has joined JumpStart Inc. as chief of staff, tasked with aligning the organization’s programming, external partnerships operations to enhance its ability to impact Greater Cleveland’s entrepreneurial and economic development ecosystems.

A Cleveland native, Dixon most recently served as senior project director of CLE Purpose Built Communities, a partnership between the Cleveland Foundation and Saint Luke’s Foundation aimed at revitalizing neighborhood and systemic efforts to improve education, housing, and community health. Dixon has also served as a program officer at the Cleveland Foundation and held various leadership positions at the City of Cleveland's Department of Public Health.

"Kimalon is deeply invested in helping communities achieve their highest potential through collaboration and systems-level change,” said JumpStart CEO Ray Leach in a statement announcing Dixon’s hire. “We are thrilled to have her on board."

Dixon earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management & Labor Relations from Cleveland State University. She has been recognized by local, state, and national organizations for her public health and philanthropy accomplishments. She serves on the Board of Trustees of P.A.L.S. For Healing and the HealthComp Foundation. She is also an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders Program. 

Dixon enjoys creative writing, gardening, and traveling in her free time. She recently launched a lifestyle blog - grownwomanish.com - to inspire and motivate black women who are “forty-plus amazing”.

JumpStart is an investing, entrepreneurial support and economic development organization dedicated to unlocking entrepreneurship to transform entire communities.

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