Project I Am, is a 501c3 organization that was created by Jahkil Naeem Jackson when he was 8 years old. Jahkil, now 16, has a heartfelt desire to help those in need. After helping his aunt distribute food to the unhoused in Chicago, he knew that he wanted to do more to make a difference.
It quickly became Jahkil’s mission to build awareness of people impacted by homelessness and to help the unhoused population by offering them what he calls “Blessing Bags,” a giveaway filled with wipes, socks, deodorant, hand sanitizer, granola bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bottled water, and more.
Jahkil is now a 2-time best-selling author and motivational speaker on a mission to influence kids around the country to get involved in their communities. Because of Project I Am, Jahkil was named a Youth Ambassador for Heartland Alliance in the Summer of 2016. They are one of the world’s leading anti-poverty organizations, working in communities in the U.S. and abroad to serve those who are homeless, living in poverty, or seeking safety. Winter 2017, Jahkil became a member of the WE International Youth Council. WE was dedicated to making the world a better place. WE Day, also a celebrated youth making a difference in their local and global communities. Jahkil was a guest speaker for 2017 and 2018. Fall 2018, Jahkil became the youngest member of the Independent Youth group which empowers today’s youth to become tomorrow’s business leaders and entrepreneurial innovators. Jahkil was named Vice Chairman of the 2019 KidBox Youth Board of Directors as well as the Chairman of the Dreams for Kids Youth Executive Board and named one of BET’s 15 under 15.
Most notably, Jahkil was acknowledged as one of three most influential people of 2017 by President Barack Obama and the Obama Foundation. Jahkil was also tapped to participate in Disney’s Be Inspired Black History Campaign, Lebron James’ #AlwaysBelieve 2018 campaign, Nike’s Until We All Win & You Can’t Stop Our Voice campaigns and is now a Marvel Super Hero and CNN Hero Young Wonder. Because of his philanthropy and influence, Crate & Barrel, Invisalign and The Gap selected Jahkil to be a part of their GenZ campaigns.
