About Us

Executive Board

 

Jennifer Mazyck-Brown
President

Katrina Williams
Vice President

Charlotte Lockhart
Jasset Smith
Program Directors

Daphne Dorce
Recording Secretary

Cassandra Charles-Gerst
Corresponding Secretary

Sherrie Mahan
Treasurer

Camile Hancock
Financial Secretary

Francine Walker
Foundation Chair

Amber Tracey
Editor

Hollani Davis
Historian

Naomy Soto-Coleman
Protocol

Jeanine Lewis-Canales
Parliamentarian

Latosha Williams
Sergeant-At-Arms

Marjorie Garcia
Danisha Hemphill-Rolle
Chaplains

Chanelle Harper
Whitney Powell
Technology Chairs

LaShonda Overstreet
Lead Teen Sponsor

Lakiesha Thomas
Immediate Past President

Jack and Jill Palm Beach County

Making A Difference

Jack and Jill boasts 262 chapters nationwide, representing more than 50,000 family members. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a general five point programmatic thrust: cultural awareness, educational development, health (education and advocacy), civic (legislative advocacy and service) and social/recreational areas. Through service projects, Jack and Jill of America creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development. Through lobbying, educational programming, dissemination of education materials, and the organization of community and charitable events, Jack and Jill has promoted the public awareness and interests of children including child development, child growth, child quality of life, child care and the promotion of children’s rights6

Palm Beach Chapter History

As President of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Candace Berry-Vaughn encountered numerous mothers residing in Palm Beach County who were interested in membership in the organization, but for whom the commute prohibited their ability to join.  Upon the recommendation of Sonja Houston and Gail Luchey (members of the Fort Lauderdale chapter), Candace contacted one such mother, Elrika Richards, to discuss her interest in organizing an Interest Group in Palm Beach County, FL.  Candace and Elrika met over lunch on April 25, 2011 to plan an informational meeting for interested mothers.  The informational meeting was held on May 21, 2011 at the home of Elrika Richards with twelve mothers in attendance, where the mothers became better acquainted with an M&Ms icebreaker, were given an overview of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the procedures for establishing an Interest Group were outlined, followed by a question and answer session and refreshments. 

All of the mothers who attended the informational meeting and six more applied for membership in the Interest Group on May 31, 2011.  On June 22, 2011, upon approval by the National Executive Board, the group became officially known as the Palm Beach Provisional Group, with boundaries of the county of Palm Beach, FL, with the Fort Lauderdale Chapter as its sponsor.  The first official Provisional Group meeting was held on August 13, 2011, where we adopted the name “Roots to Wings”, based on the quote by Hodding Carter: “There are two lasting bequests we can give our children; one is roots, the other is wings.”, established monthly mothers’ meeting dates, hostesses and locations, elected officers and committee chairs, and divided the children into grade groups.  

At the next planning meeting on August 27, 2011, we welcomed additional mothers, elected grade group chairs, and planned the first years’ programs that encompassed cultural, educational, civic/legislative, recreational, social and health activities.  Additionally, we named each of our five grade groups after local palm trees: Sugar Palms (Pre-K), Teddy Bear Palms (K-2), Windmill Palms (3-5), Majestic Palms (6-8) and Royal Palms (9-12).  Our mothers became known as Lady Palms and our fathers, as King Palms.

Health

Education and Advocacy.

Civics

Legislative Advocacy and Service.

Community Engagement

Educational Programming.

The “Sweet, Sweet Southeastern Region” is comprised of 46 chapters in five states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. The second boasts a large membership base in the Atlanta area and over a dozen Florida chapters.

In 1948 the idea of dividing the organization into a regional structure was initially put before the members at the Third Annual meeting of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated held in Washington, D.C. It was suggested to shorten the travel time to annual meetings,  allow more time for discussions on issues by all of the membership prior to attending national meetings and allow the inclusion of children at the meetings.

In 1957, at the Annual Convention held in San Francisco, the Regional Plan was fully adopted. Today there are seven regions which comprise Jack and Jill of America. Our chapter is a part of the Southeastern Region, which covers five states – Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

National History


 

Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated was founded January 24, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from a meeting of 20 mothers by the leadership of Marion Stubbs Thomas with the idea of bringing together children in a social and cultural environment. In 1964, as more groups became active, bylaws were drawn up and incorporated under the laws of Delaware. The organization was a nonprofit family organization by mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 19 holding membership. Today, Jack and Jill of America includes over 220 chapters nationwide, representing over 30,000 family members. Through service projects and quality programming, Jack and Jill of America creates a medium of contact for children to stimulate their growth and development. 

 

A National Network

Established Nationally Since 1938

0
Chapters
0
Family Members