By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
Jack and Jill of America kicked off their 47th National Convention with a town hall titled “The Power of Us” at the Baltimore Convention Center on July 21. The gathering honored seven community leaders who are driving change in education, Black business investment, digital equity, media, health and representation.
AFRO CEO and Publisher Frances Toni Draper took home the Power of Record and Remembrance Award for the media company’s more than 130-year legacy of amplifying the voices of African Americans and spotlighting critical issues facing the Black community.
Suzanne Orneals, national editor for Jack and Jill of America, said the AFRO was not just a newspaper but a living archive of Black identities and experiences.
“In a media landscape where Black voices are still fighting for space and ownership, the AFRO stands as both a reminder of how far we’ve come and a challenge for us to keep fighting for the full story to be told,” said Orneals.
Accepting the award, Draper said the AFRO shares Jack and Jill of America’s commitment to investing in young people and supporting their aspirations. She noted that she’s been involved with the organization since she was a child, and her experiences with it have informed her leadership at the AFRO.
“We built lifelong friendships, and we discovered that Jack and Jill was a family way beyond our own chapter,” said Draper. “Years later, I came back as a Jack and Jill mother, and because I was a mother for two decades, I was elected president twice, not consecutively. I watched my four children develop friendships. These lessons have shaped how I lead the AFRO today.”
Morgan State University (MSU) was honored with the Power of Legacy in Learning Award and celebrated for its work with the university’s Food Resource Center, which provides food, clothing and other essentials to students and members of the surrounding community. MSU also received a $25,000 donation from the Jack and Jill of America Foundation.
“I remember growing up and always being told that education is power,” said Ily J. Houston, national vice president of Jack and Jill of America. “There’s nothing more dangerous than an educated person—one who can critically think for themselves, weigh arguments and balance the truth amid varying belief systems. It is not a simple task nor one which we can take for granted.”
Accepting the award on behalf of President David K. Wilson, Stacey Benn, senior executive assistant to the president, said MSU continues to foster both academic excellence and student success.
“At Morgan State, we like for our students to know that Morgan is a national treasure, but there’s a certain treasure in each of them,” said Benn.
The town hall also recognized Downtown Partnership of Baltimore President Shelonda Stokes with the Power of Investment Award; the American Red Cross with the Power of Service to Others Award; Digital Harbor Foundation CEO Andrew Coy with the Power of Access Award; and March of Dimes with the Power of Beginnings Award.
The gathering concluded with the presentation of the Power of Voice and Presence Award to former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Reflecting on her career, she said representation in leadership matters because it allows young people to see themselves in spaces where they have historically been absent and encourages others to use their voices to create opportunities for those who follow.
“Trailblazing to me means leaving the door open behind you. It means making sure someone else can walk through it with less resistance than you faced,” said Jean-Pierre. “It means choosing courage over comfort again and again. Tonight, I accept this award with such gratitude and purpose. The work continues.”
