06/12/2026
This month we are spotlighting Jennifer Naegele, our Council Director for Girls on the Run (GOTR) Great Lakes Bay program!
How long have you been with Underground Railroad?
Back in 2000, I worked at Underground Railroad for about 5 months as a Residential Care Advocate. I moved to the San Francisco area shortly after, and it was amazing to come full circle years later back to the Great Lakes Bay Region and Underground Railroad in 2011 as a Prevention Educator. At that time our local Girls on the Run (GOTR) chapter had just started operating out of URR, and the mission spoke to me on every level. I worked as both URR prevention educator and GOTR program coordinator for about a year before transitioning full time to Council Director in 2012. All in all, I’ve been with URR/GOTR for about 16 years.
What does a typical day look like for you?
It depends on the day! It might be working on a grant or connecting with sponsors or community partners, marketing and public relations, volunteer recruitment and support, coach training, program coordination, event planning for spring and fall 5Ks and fundraisers, or filling in to coach.
What do you enjoy most about working here?
I absolutely love working with the incredible people and volunteers that GOTR brings into its orbit. It is a circle of endless positively, joy, and a passion to uplift young girls, build healthy life skills, and create meaningful connections for our participants. I especially love being able to make a measurable impact for girls on a local level. When I get overwhelmed by the bigger picture, I think about Jane Goodall’s belief that small, daily actions from many people create significant change; indeed, one of our program participants said it best – When asked she learned at Girls on the Run, she said, “I learned that if you work together, you can do a lot of things.” Working collectively with hundreds of volunteers who give literally thousands of hours annually, and with community partners and sponsors who make it possible for every girl to participate, is incredibly special. Together we really can “do a lot of things” to make a lifelong impact for hundreds of girls in our region every year. Ultimately, l love the opportunity to bring our mission and vision to life: To inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun curriculum that integrates running, walking, and movement for girls of all levels and abilities. And our vision – a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
What is the best career advice you have received?
Don’t wait you’re “perfectly ready”. You will never be. Be brave and jump in, trust yourself, embrace growth that comes from mistakes, and surround yourself with people who fiercely support you, support each other, and who you can learn from and emulate. Constantly raise your bar. Once you learn that that things that were once terrifying can become like clockwork (and even fun!), your world opens up exponentially.
What is a fun fact about you?
I am a singer/songwriter and play throughout the region with some of my favorite people in a variety of projects. I am happily obsessed with plants and gardening, and my husband and I have a cat named Clover who sits, jumps, shakes, and gives kisses.
