Janeka Haden

Janeka is a Policy Associate to the President of the Board of Alderman. In this role, she works on the policy agenda for the President under the general supervision of the Policy Director. She works on the Public Safety and Housing agenda largely, but provides assistance in all policy areas. Janeka first came to St. Louis in 2021 to attend the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. She graduated with her masters degree in Social Work with a concentration in Policy. During her time at the Brown School, she interned at the Missouri House of Representatives and at the Federal Public Defender’s Office within the Eastern District of Missouri. Prior to this, she worked with the Tennessee Department of Children Services as a foster care case manager.

Janeka’s interests include exploring social histories and how they relate to current social problems. In particular, she’s passionate about the structure of justice and the creation of our current legal system post the American reconstruction-era. She enjoys listening to history podcasts, engaging the work of Black literary authors, traveling to different countries, walking her puppy, and finding new coffee shops. Her favorite author is James Baldwin and her favorite book is Giovanni's Room.