Jahkil Naeem Jackson

Youth Philanthropist, Student-Athlete, Best-Selling Author & Social Entrepreneur

Jahkil Naeem Jackson

Youth Philanthropist, Student-Athlete, Best-Selling Author & Social Entrepreneur

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Biography

Jahkil Jackson is a globally recognized changemaker, student-athlete, two-time best-selling author, and the founder of Project I Am, a nonprofit he launched at just 8 years old to raise awareness about homelessness. His passion for service ignited after helping his aunt distribute food to the unhoused in Chicago, sparking a mission that has since impacted over 200,000 individuals worldwide.

Now 17, Jahkil has raised over $650,000, mobilized 2,000+ youth volunteers globally, and expanded Project I Am internationally to France, Spain, and Toronto. His organization distributes Blessing Bags filled with daily essentials to people in need across the U.S., India, London, Ghana, Swaziland, and disaster-stricken areas like Guatemala, the Bahamas, and Puerto Rico.

Recognized by President Barack Obama, Jahkil has been featured in Forbes, CNN, and BET, and honored as a Red Cross Hero, CNN Hero, and Marvel Super Hero. He has partnered with Nike, the NBA, Invisalign, Fantikk, and NASAClip, while also serving as a youth ambassador for Heartland Alliance, WE International, and Giving Tuesday Sparks. Jahkil is also one of the youngest to ink a deal with Crate & Barrel with his custom pillow line.

Beyond philanthropy, Jahkil is committed to mentoring the next generation, teaching social entrepreneurship to middle school students, and empowering youth to take action in their communities. As a dynamic speaker, he has shared his story on stages ranging from TEDx and schools to Fortune 500 companies, inspiring audiences with his message of leadership, resilience, and service.

Balancing high-level basketball with global impact, Jahkil Jackson is a force both on and off the court, proving that dedication and passion can create meaningful change at any age.

Speaker Videos

Don't Wait to be Great | Jahkil Jackson | TEDxYouth@LowellHS

Philanthropists, influencer Jahkil Jackson celebrating 7 years of 'Blessing Bags'

Teen Became a Marvel Superhero After Creating ‘Blessing Bags’ to Help the Homeless

JAHKIL NAEEM JACKSON: Prioritize Your Mental Health | Immanuel Nghifikwa | Episode 1

JAHKIL JACKSON: INVESTING IN TINY HOMES, ADVICE FOR NON-PROFIT TEENS + NEXT STEPS | XBlaze Magazine

JAHKIL JACKSON: DANCE, ATHLETICS, PUBLISHING HIS BOOKS + ORIGIN OF PROJECT I AM | XBlaze Magazine

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Speech Topics

Don’t Wait to Be Great: Youth Empowerment

How to Motivate & Inspire GenZ at Work & Beyond

Bridging the Gap Between Youth & Adults: How to Encourage & Celebrate Youth Voice

Testimonials

"Jahkil’s assembly on bullying had a tremendous impact on my students. Before he came I had several issues with bullying in my classroom, but when they went to the assembly, not only did they see a peer that they look up to as a super star, it was very engaging, the music had them going, they took a pledge against bullying and gave testimonials about how they felt about bullying. After that my students treated each other so much better. I really appreciate you for taking the time to come speak to the students at my school. It made a tremendous impact."

- Teacher, Bret Harte Elementary

"Jahkil was a powerful speaker and workshop leader with many of our children that attended the virtual book fair that presented Jahkil in the series that we had. He was extremely relatable, extremely clear and concise as to where he thought the conversation should go and pointed the children in the direction of the narrative as far as his book was concerned and the ability to advocate for oneself and to chase your own individuation dreams. He is a speaker and a workshop leader that we would welcome back anytime. We were really honored to have him."

- Westside Neighborhood School

"Legacy Charter School thanks Jahkil Jackson for coming and doing our social entrepreneur program. He was so informative, creative and had so much imagination. Our scholars loved him. The program brought so much joy to our students and our school community. We thank you for such a strong curriculum and frameworking content. We look forward to another year with Mr. Jahkil Jackson. Thank you for your youth leadership."

- Legacy Charter School

"I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jahkil Jackson since he was in 5^th grade. Recently he worked with students in grades 5^th – 8^th on the importance of social entrepreneurship. As a freshman in high school, he instructed the program himself and he was a very excellent speaker, he was very clear, the students knew exactly what to expect and he was able to communicate with passion and conviction about the issues that he cares about most. Jahkil has been an asset to our student body for over 5 years."

- Owen Scholastic Academy

"In December of 2021 I was looking to find a young entrepreneur for our annual celebrate youth entrepreneurship events and I came across an article about Jahkil Jackson. Upon reading his story, I instantly felt connected with his message and thought that he would be an incredible addition for our students to learn from and be motivated by. Jahkil not only met but fully exceeded the expectations that I had for this event. All of our students left feeling motivated and inspired by seeing someone who not only look like them but who’s message and impact made such a huge difference in the world. Jahkil was engaging, well prepared and quick to respond to questions asked of him by the students. Jahkil was such a huge hit with the students and administrators that they are still talking about him to this day so much so that we are having Jahkil back to speak at another large conference event for adult educators. If I had to find one word to describe what your students or group will get from hearing Jahkil’s message, I would say Impactful. If you are looking for a motivating, impactful youth entrepreneur speaker, I would highly suggest Jahkil Jackson, you will not be disappointed."

- University School