Jack and Jill of America Inc. hosted its 68th Annual Eastern Region Teen Conference “Royalty: Our Past, Our present, and Our Future,” featuring panelists like R&B duo Chloe and Halle, HBCU Buzz president Brittany Ireland, Scholly Founder Christopher J. Gray, and Global Group founder Jaylen Bledsoe this past weekend, April 5-8, 2018.

Chloe, Halle, Brittany, Chris, and Jaylen spoke on the panel “Young, Gifted, & Black: Millennial Founders in the Innovation Economy” moderated by Emmy-award winning journalist Cathleen Trigg-Jones.

“We recognized that something had to be done, and we did it; not just for ourselves, but for HBCU students around the world,” says Ireland to a standing-only room of teens at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center April 7, 2018. She continues, “It was important to see millennials like you and me[African-American] who are living their dreams, being celebrated.”

Chloe and Halle spilled tips from their mentor Beyonce‘ and how they grew to fame, Jaylen told a compelling story about becoming a millionaire before he was even legal, and Chris reflected back to producing the biggest fight on ABC’s hit television show Shark Tank.

The 4-day conference hosted by the Metropolitan New York Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. engaged nearly 1,000 African American teenagers in targeted, structured activities to provide a unique leadership experience.

The youth had the opportunity to network and learn more about education, business, innovative technologies, job readiness, and leadership skills through panels, workshops, and other sessions.

“After the panel a few teens rushed over and told me they had got accepted to various HBCUs, that they followed HBCU Buzz, or that they’d seen our logo various places in their cities. The teens told me I’d see their names in headlines one day… I told them they were correct, that first headline will be from hbcubuzz.com, because we are here for each of you!”

Other panelists and guest speakers include actor Michael Rainey Jr. from POWER, National Hockey League Executive Vice President Kimbery Davis, Rock the Vote Civic Engagement Manager Shaneice Simmons, Assembly Member Michael A. Blake, Diplomat Heather Joy Thompson Esq., lawyer and entrepreneur James E. McMillan, Bank of America Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Cynthia H. Bowman, Howard Woolley president and CEO of Howard Woolley Group LLC, Excutive Director of the National Society of Black Engineers Karl W. Reid, Lockheed Martin Corporate Strategy and Business Development Senior Vice President Stephanie C. Hill, Microsoft Corporate U.S. Government Affair Vice President Fred Humphries, Writer and Celebrity Lifestyle Expert K. Neycha Herferd, Founder and CEO of Reframe the Brand Jeffrey L. Bowman, Best-selling author Harriette Cole, and Tony and Emmy-award winning actress Renee’ Elise Goldsberry, and Baltimore Chief Communications Officer Adrienne Barnes.

 

Jack and Jill of America is composed of over 11,000 mother-members who represent more than 40,000 family members across the country. We currently have 242 chapters nationwide and 57 chapters in the Eastern Region that span the District of Columbia and eight states including Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia (Northern). Our conference attendees come from all 57 chapters along the East Coast. While approximately 1000 attendees are teens, we also expect approximately 400 mothers who embrace the values of financial security, academic success, professional advancement and economic empowerment.
About Brittany Ireland
Brittany is a millennial leader in the media industry and proud graduate of Howard University where she serves on the university’s core communications team. Contact Brittany at brittany@brittanyireland.com.

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