Volunteer Instructor Jayme Epstein: Connecting with the Community

Jayme Epstein has volunteered as a teacher with Negotiation Works since 2022. She graduated from Georgetown Law and practiced law for 12 years. Later, her love of learning led her to a second career as a language arts and social studies teacher for the Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School in Southeast D.C., eventually rising to become their lead writing teacher. Jayme currently serves as the Volunteer Coordinator for Justice Arts Coalition, a network of currently and formerly incarcerated artists and their allies, and enjoys a range of volunteer roles, from helping elect progressive candidates to office in D.C to advocating for affordable housing and the transformation of the District’s criminal legal system and approach to community safety.

Eager to return to the classroom, Jayme saw that Negotiation Works was looking for volunteer teachers and reached out to learn more about the organization. She knew the value of negotiation skills, and after examining the curriculum decided to apply for the volunteer instructor position. Since then, she has been teaching negotiation classes at both Together We Bake and Calvary Women’s Services. To Jayme, being a teacher with Negotiation Works means being part of a program that gives people valuable tools to handle conflict in many aspects of their lives. 

Jayme shares her philosophy on why this work is so critical: “Negotiation skills are important to learn because conflict can arise daily in a variety of situations. If you don't have the tools to negotiate, you can either increase the stress of a situation or people can take advantage of you. It can be empowering to know you have the tools to work through a situation to reach a solution that works for you.”