Jamika Needom

You know the expression “data is king”? It may be true, but you have to know how to use it. And in that way, Jamika Needom is an NEA kingmaker.

For the past two-plus years, Jamika has been working with NEA affiliates in the Southeast to launch NEA 360, to master Salesforce features, and to better use technology of all kinds.

To her, membership data isn’t just data. “I look at 360 as the story of our members,” she says.

And because the data tells the stories of our members, it can reveal which ones should be tapped as leaders or as advocates for state and national programs. Even more important, data holds the stories of our potential members. What do they care about? The answer is key to the future of public education and labor in the U.S.

When Jamika worked previously for the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), they had great data, she says, but the only place to put it was an Excel spreadsheet. Today, Jamika’s work is moving Zone 2 (Southeastern) affiliates into the 21st century of data.

With her expertise and enthusiasm, staff and leaders are learning to use technology to build power and capacity. “We’re really stepping up our game!” she says.