Project I Am Nfp

"Youth are often times viewed as lazy and reckless.  Youth are silenced, misunderstood and unheard.  Many times I fear being lumped into this stereotype.  I am hear to show a different side of black youth from Chicago.  Don't Wait To Be Great is something I often tell youth when I am speaking because if someone had of told me that by the age of 16, I would be a 2-time best selling author, motivational speaker, homeless advocate, teacher, social entrepreneur, student athlete and ultimately to being in the same room with President Obama where he named me one of 2017’s most influential people, I would never have believed them. Now here I am meeting goals I set for adulthood before even graduating high school. I say find your passion and make it happen!" - Jahkil Jackson

Jahkil Jackson is just 16 and he’s already earned a reputation as one of the world’s most influential changemakers. After helping his aunt distribute food to the homeless in Chicago's cold winter at just 5 years old, he knew that he wanted to do more to make a difference.  Jahkil came up with an innovative way to assist by creating Project I Am when he was 8 with the goal to build awareness of homelessness and to help them by providing an easily transportable giveaway.  Blessing Bags filled by the hands of countless volunteers across the country include a variety of products including masks, gloves, hygiene wipes, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, antiseptic, soap, socks, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bottled water and a nonperishable snack.  

In just a few years, Jahkil has led Project I Am’s efforts in raising over$550,000 for the homeless.  Jahkil’s efforts have touched over 135,000 men, women and children across the world. Along with the help of friends and family, Jahkil has organized distribution to those in need in Chicago, Texas, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Virginia, Idaho and more. He has also provided items of support to orphans in Mbabane, Swaziland and Ghana as well as volcano victims in Guatemala, and hurricane survivors in the Bahamas, Florida, Houston and Puerto Rico. 

During COVID-19 quarantine, Project I Am expanded with a national initiative, virtual packing parties.  In 2023, over 1,000 youth from over 50 cities joined a zoom call to create 15,000 blessing bags for those in need in their cities.  To date, over 2,000 youth have packed and distributed over 40,000 blessing bags.  Jahkil plans to continue to join forces with other like-minded youth to lead a life of service, encouraging them to find their passions and make the world a better place. To continue to reach his goals for Project I Am, he raises funds from the public for supplies and shipping. With funds raised for Give8/28, Project I Am aims to have 1,000 youth participate nationwide and this dynamic group will distribute 15,000 blessing bags to those in need.

There are over 550,000 homeless people America. Walking through the streets, the problem becomes obvious. Most people walk past the homeless or perhaps don’t even care to acknowledge the homeless. In fact, it can seem as though people do not realize that homeless people are people too. They deserve our help. While not all homeless people are sleeping outside, about 20% of them search for dry spaces to lay their heads on the street and the other 80% are drifters living from couch to couch with family members and friends.

Jahkil illustrates a different side of young black men in Chicago. Jahkil's initiative has gained the attention of many notables such as Barack Obama, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Karl Antony Towns, Steve Harvey, CNN, Huffington Post, and Forbes. He has participated in a Gap campaign and four Nike campaigns and he was even named a CNN Hero Young Wonder and a Marvel Hero as a part of Disney Plus's Marvel Hero Project. So please consider joining the movement and supporting the young people who are dedicated to changing the world!