Jordyn Lexton

Overview

Jordyn is the founder and executive director of Drive Change. Jordyn started their career as a teacher and taught for three years at the NYC DOE public high school inside of the jail complex on Rikers Island. Jordyn is a native New Yorker but it was only while teaching on Rikers that Jordyn learned New York is one of two states that automatically arrests and prosecutes sixteen year olds like adults. Jordyn witnessed the abusive nature of the criminal justice system and Jordyn's students struggle to find meaningful employment post release. Motivated by the way kids inside of the culinary arts class on Rikers possessed a sense of purpose and pride Jordyn dug into their own belief in the power of a shared meal and started Drive Change. Jordyn and Drive Change have been recognized by NBC Melissa Harris Perry Edible The Chew The Vendy Awards Yahoo Foods and others. Jordyn is a former Ashoka Leadership Bootcamp Fellow (2014) An 'Agent of Change' and Milan Food Expo 2015 USA Pavilion Advisory Board Member. Jordyn holds a BA from Wesleyan University and a MA in Teaching from Pace University.