This month we are excited to feature another Notable NC Woman, Jessica Holmes!. Jessica is an attorney who currently serves as a Deputy Commissioner on the North Carolina Industrial Commission. She graduated from UNC at Chapel Hill School of Law where she earned the Distinguished Young Alumni Award and Outstanding Recent Graduate Award, respectively.
In November 2014, she was elected as the youngest county commissioner ever elected in Wake County’s history. Subsequently, she was unanimously elected by her colleagues to serve as Chair, becoming the youngest person to ever wield the gavel.
In 2020, she made history again and became the first woman of color to earn the Democratic nomination for North Carolina Commissioner of Labor.
Jessica has spent the majority of her legal career as a labor and employment attorney. She is a proud champion of issues such as workers' rights including living wages and safe working conditions. She supports criminal justice reform and led the passage of Wake County Government's second chance hiring policy. Equity is a cornerstone of her beliefs. Jessica created and chaired Wake County's first Affordable Housing and Infant Mortality Task Forces, she has advocated for policies that remove barriers to women in the workforce, such as increasing the number and type of affordable childcare options and lobbying for paid parental leave.
On the NC Industrial Commission, Jessica works to ensure all parties in workers' compensation claims are treated fairly in accordance with North Carolina State law. Jessica also proudly serves on the Board of Directors of the Lillian's List Foundation. She supports the organization's mission to ensure women are able to access complete healthcare and freely and fully participate in economic and political life by recruiting and training women to run, win, and become champions of gender equity in their local communities. She has been intentional about recruiting and getting more women of color involved in politics and mentoring candidates!