The Issue - Volume 3, Issue 1 - September 2023

THE ISSUE

THE ISSUE

Letter from the President

Greetings Mothers!

Welcome to the 2023-24 program year where we are continuing the mission of keeping our children first We ended our 2022-23 program year with a wonderful Black Family Day celebration at Whirlyball. It was a great culminating event for our chapter as we celebrated all of our accomplishments with our new families in attendance. As the chapter took a summer sabbatical, I continued the work on behalf of the Minneapolis Chapter. In June, I represented the Minneapolis Chapter officers at the Regional Leadership Training Summit in St. Louis, MO. In July, I served as the chapter delegate for the Mother’s Conference in Puerto Rico In August, I served as the chapter representative for the National Leadership Training meeting that took place in our beautiful city! In September, we kicked off our program year with our first mother’s meeting with a new streamlined process that will allow us to do our business in a more effective and timely fashion. This process will also allow us more time to do activities that will help us bond and get to know each other better, which will be beneficial for the growth of our chapter.

We will not conduct Rites of Passage this program year This will allow us to shift our focus to delivering an outstanding National Convention in 2024! More to come on that as the year progresses.

On September 9th, we celebrated Carole Robertson Day/Jack and Jill Day at Target Field Protocol Chair Shanequa Williams made sure we received our attire in time for Carole Robertson/Jack and Jill Day! It was so good to see the majority of our families gathered together in the spirit of remembrance and fellowship. This was the first time that we held an event of this magnitude as a chapter. We represented Minneapolis with protocol and fashion and the folks at Target Field took note! We received rave kudos from the National Leadership on a job well done! I would like us to continue to provide enriching and engaging activities that will have an impact on the growth and development of our children, while building and maintaining a solid foundation as a chapter Finally, I would like to extend my extreme gratitude to the members of the Audit Committee and the Executive Committee who worked throughout the summer conducting chapter business. We submitted our chapter’s internal audit that was due on August 31st, ON TIME! A HUGE THANK YOU to FS Carmela, RS Celeste and IPAPD Lillian for your tireless efforts with this process The Finance Committee made sure invoices for programming dues and Jack and Jill Day were sent to all chapter members We also got Per Capita paid ON TIME! We have tremendous talent in this chapter and I look forward to watching this talent in action as we plan an exciting program for our children and our mothers.

In Motherhood and Service to Our Children,

Jennifer Harris

2023-2025

Minneapolis Chapter President

Minneapolis Chapter Leadership Team

As we embark on this new programming year, we are thankful for the outstanding individuals who will be leading us forward as part of the new leadership team. These dedicated individuals have been elected to guide our chapter to even greater heights, and they bring a wealth of experience, passion, and vision to their roles.

We join hands and extend our full support to our new leadership team as we embark on a year of unity, service, and growth.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Mother Carmela Bolden

CHAPTER PRESIDENT Jennifer Harris VICE PRESIDENT Mother Megan Poole

TREASURER Mother Shalonda Maggitt

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Mother Dawn Simpson

RECORDING SECRETARY Mother Celeste Coleman-Ogunsanya

EDITOR / HISTORIAN Mother Sammie JosephFredericks

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Mother Janiece KirtonGreason

PROTOCOL CHAIR Mother Shenequa Williams CHAPLAIN Mother Jori Thibodeaux

LEGISLATIVE CHAIR Mother Tiffany Scott-Knox

TECHNOLOGY CHAIR Mother Bridgette Shannon

FOUNDATION CHAIR Mother Asaia Fraser

PARLIAMENTARIAN Mother Jeffrey Scott

Minneapolis Welcomes New Moms

In May 2023, we joyfully welcomed a group of remarkable new mothers into the heart of our Minneapolis Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc Now, as they embark on their first program year, we extend our heartfelt best wishes and support for the wonderful journey that lies ahead.

Your first program year is a time of exploration, discovery, and building lasting connections Rest assured, we are here to support you every step of the way.

May your journey with the Minneapolis Chapter be filled with joy, personal growth, and the creation of cherished memories. Your presence here is a testament to your dedication to the ideals and values of Jack and Jill of America, Inc , and we are honored to stand beside you as you continue to nurture and empower your families.

Here's to an amazing first program year.

Mother Brandi Powell

Mother Chakiera Felder Mother Kathryn Mayfield Mother Nikkia Hines

Mother Jimetra Roumo

Mother Alexis Eromosele

Mother Marisa Williams

Mother Felicia HaynesWakefield

Mother Daphne Edwards

Highlight: Mighty Midwestern Region's 33rd Mother’s Conference

In July, mothers from across the Midwestern Region converged in the vibrant city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to commemorate the region's 33rd Mother's Conference Under the inspiring theme "Dare to Dream," this gathering of maternal wisdom and camaraderie brought together representatives from an impressive 41 chapters

The attendees of the 33rd Mother's Conference immersed themselves in a vibrant tapestry of learning, sharing, and celebration

Workshops, discussions, and fellowship allowed the participants to explore new horizons and ignite fresh dreams It was a time to renew commitment to nurturing the potential of our children and fostering leadership in our communities

Representing the Minneapolis Chapter with pride and distinction were President Jennifer Harris, who served as the chapter’s delegate, Vice President Megan Poole, Program Director Dawn Simpson, and Mother Chestevia Gibson

During the conference, VP Megan was recognized as the Minneapolis Chapter's Inspirational Leader and PD Dawn was recognized as the Minneapolis Chapter’s Outstanding Mother.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the moms who represented our chapter at the conference this year.

Mightily serving the Twin Cities community with love, kindness, and commitment to all children

THE

Submitted By: LTA Kendra Dodd

We are thrilled to share with you an exciting recap of this year's Regional Teen Leadership Conference (TLC) held at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, from Friday, June 16th to Tuesday, June 20th The 2023 TLC was nothing short of spectacular, uniting teenagers from the Mighty Mid-Western Region for an unforgettable experience Under the theme of "Reunion," teens came together to celebrate, compete, learn leadership attributes, and forge lasting bonds

We had a total of ten teens participate and five of them were seniors that we celebrated Saturday night at a special ceremony. LTA Kendra Q. Dodd and TA Kirstin Johnson-Nixon were the chaperones.

The Power of Reunion: The 2023 Theme

The theme for this year's conference, "Reunion," served as a unifying force throughout the event. It reminded us of the importance of coming together, reinforced throughout the long weekend, and was the core theme for competitions. The theme was a poignant reminder that we are all part of the Jack and Jill family and each generation and teen makes a difference.

THE ISSUE

Submitted By: LTA Kendra Dodd

The days at TLC were filled with engaging and educational activities, ensuring that every teen had an enriching experience. Some highlights of theschedulewere:

Plenary 1: Opening Session: The conference kicked off with a dynamic opening session that setthetoneforthedaysahead

Plenary 2: Business Meeting: Attendees definitely were able to witness how a business meeting is conducted and the Roberts Rules utilized. There were regional officer recaps and discussions.

Plenary 3: Business Meeting and Competition

Results: This session was a culmination of the competitive spirit that ran throughout the conference. It was here that our talented teens received recognition for their achievements in variouscompetitions

Collective Gospel Choir Performance during Worship Service: Teens across the region practiced virtually and during the conference to present an uplifting performance

Community Service with Feed My Starving Children: Our teens dedicated their time and effort to a noble cause, participating in a community service event with Feed My Starving Children.

As we reflect on the memories made and lessons learned, we look forward to the continued growth and empowerment of our teens as they carry the values of leadership, unity, and collaboration into the future We can't wait to see what our talented teens will achieve in the coming programming year

The 2023 Mighty Mid-Western Teen Leadership Conference at The Ohio State University was an incredible success, thanks to the dedication of our teen, guest presenters, regional teen officers and mother officers, and organizers. It embodied the spirit of "Reunion" and showcased the incredible potential of our young leaders within the Jack and Jill of America family.

Inspiration Corner: Honoring Courage and Triumph

Inaworldwherechallengesoftentestthelimitsofourstrength,wetakethismomenttocelebrateandhonortwo extraordinarymotherswhohaveemergedvictoriousinthefaceofadversity Theirstoriesofresilience, unwaveringdeterminationandfaithinGod,andtriumphantbattlesagainstbreastcancerserveasbeaconsofhope andinspirationtousall

Chaplain Jori Thibodeaux is a living testament to the power of the human spirit andtrustinthepromisesofGod.Herremarkablejourneytocelebrate7yearsof freedom from breast cancer is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Against all odds and in defiance of the dire predictions from medical professionals who once said she wouldn't survive beyond 5 years, Chaplain Jori not only proved them wrong butdidsowithgrace,courage,andanunwaveringspirit.

Herjourneywasatestamenttoherresilienceandunwaveringfaith Shefacedthe daunting challenges, and the emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis with a strength that left an indelible mark on those around her Chaplain Jori's story serves as a reminderthatthehumanspiritknowsnobounds,andwithdeterminationandfaith, wecanovercomeeventhemostformidableobstacles

Mother Nikkia Hines is another beacon of hope in our midst. With a heart full of courage, she triumphed over breast cancer, emerging victorious in February 2021.Herjourneythroughthetrialsofcancertreatment,markedbymomentsof strengthandvulnerability,exemplifiestheresilienceofthehumanspirit.

Nikkia's story serves as a reminder that cancer, though formidable, can be defeated. Her victory inspires us to continue to raise awareness about the significanceofregularcheck-upsandself-exams.

As we celebrate Chaplain Jori Thibodeaux and Mother Nikkia Hines, we are reminded of the immense strength that resides within each of us. Their triumphs over breast cancer embody the spirit of resilience and hope that defines Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Itisatimenotonlytohonortheirjourneysbutalsotoencourageearlydetection,support,andeducationso that more stories of triumph can be written in the fight against breast cancer. In their courage, we find inspiration,andintheirvictories,wefindhope.

Congratulations, Chaplain Jori and Mother Nikkia, on your incredible victories! You are true SHEroes, and yourstrengthinspiresusall.

ChaplainJoriThibodeaux:7YearsofTriumph

MotherNikkiaHines:ABraveSurvivor

Inspiration Corner: Breast Cancer Awareness Month Resources

Things to do: Podcast to listen to

Important Dates and Reminders

REGISTRATIONISNOWOPENforthe Mid-WesternRegionAreaWorkdayCluster (IL/Tri-StateArea)

Date:Friday,October27th,2023,through Saturday,October28th,2023

Venue:TheWestinHotel

70YorktownShoppingCenter

Lombard,IL60148

CostforRegistration,notincludingthehotel,isasfollows: Mothers($300);Teens($300);Fatherchaperones($200).

Formoreinformation:

https://events.viprllc.com/mwriltristateawd2023

Our chapter newsletter, published every three months, is a platform to share news and information, as well as the talents, milestones, and inspirations that make our chapter unique. Whether it's a family member's academic achievements, a personal milestone, or an inspiring tale of resilience, we want to hear from you! Send all submissions to Editor Sammie at jjmplseditor@gmail com

and