Rachel Powers is a proud St. Louis native and has spent her career elevating the voices of communities to recognize and actualize their power to make change. In her previous role, she served as Communications Manager for Noble Schools in Chicago, Illinois. There, she managed external and internal communications, public and media relations, social media, and brand management for the organization’s 17 high schools and one middle school. Rachel also served as Dean of Students at Muchin College Prep, where she guided high school students to their goals through academic and social-emotional counseling; and led strategic partnership development to enhance learning outside of the classroom.
Previous to working in Chicago, Rachel was a Consultant at Vector Communications in St. Louis, where she galvanized communities to address public policy issues in Missouri and Illinois. In this role, she managed marketing, public relations, community, and stakeholder engagement in the areas of health and human services, transit, transportation, and education.
Rachel holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in social and economic development and management, from Washington University in St. Louis.
Community Engagement Statement
Community engagement is important to me because engaged communities create the conditions for people to thrive. When neighbors, families, leaders, and institutions are connected and working toward shared goals, young people gain stronger support systems, better opportunities, and a clearer pathway to success. And when communities are engaged, cities grow—local businesses benefit from a stronger talent pipeline, neighborhoods become more vibrant, and the overall economy becomes more resilient. Engaged communities don’t just respond to challenges; they shape a stronger future for everyone.