Ameshia Cross
Director, Communications
Ameshia leads media strategy, press outreach, strategic marketing and external affairs for the Education Trust. Prior to joining Ed Trust, Ameshia was the state policy director for the Pretrial Justice Institute, where she served at the intersection of government affairs, advocacy, and strategic communications focusing on bail reform and ending cash bail. Ameshia has education experience across various nonprofits, including the National Black Child Development Institute, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago, and more. Ameshia also worked in communications for former Vice President Al Gore, former President Barack Obama, and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Additionally, Ameshia is a political contributor across cable news platforms, SiriusXM, and iHeart Radio.
A native of Chicago, Ameshia holds a master’s degree from the Roosevelt University in public administration, and a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from Belmont University.
Weakness
Impatience and a shoe addiction
What are people most surprised to learn about you?
I’m a huge country music fan. It’s my favorite genre and I can sing/play everything from Merle Haggard and the Possum to Tim McGraw and Miranda Lambert.
What drew you to education?
My mom instilled the importance of education at an early age. Though she was a single mom and my family relied on various social welfare programs, the window of opportunity that my mom evangelized regularly was education. As I reached adulthood and learned more about the structural racism inherent in the public education system, I became as determined as my mom to ensure equity in access and provide that window of opportunity to young people who grew up in circumstances like mine.
