Jahkil
STUDENT-ATHLETE | CREATOR | SPEAKER | SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
3X BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
As Seen On:
Jahkil Jackson is a 19-year-old student-athlete, social entrepreneur, content creator, motivational speaker and 3X best-selling author from Chicago. At just 8 years old, he founded Project I Am, turning a childhood desire to help people experiencing homelessness into a global youth-led movement that has now impacted hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Jahkil's journey has taken him from his hometown of Chicago to stages, television screens and communities across the country and around the world. His work has earned recognition from President Barack Obama, CNN, Marvel, the American Red Cross and others, while creating opportunities to work with brands and organizations including Nike, the NBA, Gap and Crate & Barrel. Through it all, Jahkil has remained committed to the message that has guided his journey from the beginning: “Don't Wait to Be Great.”
Today, Jahkil has entered a new chapter as a college student-athlete while continuing to lead Project I Am, create content, speak to audiences and use his platform to inspire the next generation. Whether he's on the basketball court, behind a camera, on a stage or serving his community, Jahkil continues to show that purpose doesn't have to fit into one box—and that young people don't have to wait to make an impact.
Dear Chicago
Athlete
Basketball has been part of Jahkil’s journey for years, challenging him to grow not only as an athlete, but as a young man. His path has included success, setbacks, lessons and countless hours of work behind the scenes, all of which have helped shape the player and person he is today.
A 6’3″ combo guard with a 6’8″ wingspan, Jahkil brings versatility, energy and a competitive mindset to the court. His game is built around his ability to impact both ends of the floor, while his experiences as a student-athlete have taught him the importance of discipline, resilience, patience and preparation.
Today, Jahkil is competing at the collegiate level while continuing to develop his game and adjust to the demands of being a college student-athlete. For him, basketball is more than a sport. It is another part of a journey centered on growth, perseverance and becoming the best version of himself on and off the court.
Speaking
Jahkil Jackson is an award-winning motivational speaker, three-time best-selling author, social entrepreneur, nonprofit founder and college student-athlete whose voice is helping shape conversations around leadership, purpose and impact for the next generation.
Having taken the stage in front of audiences ranging from students and educators to corporate leaders and national organizations, Jahkil brings a unique perspective shaped by his experiences as a young founder, athlete, author and changemaker. His message encourages audiences to recognize that age does not determine impact and that they don’t have to wait for the “right time” to begin making a difference.
At the heart of Jahkil’s speaking is the message that has guided his own journey: Don’t Wait to Be Great.
He has also been invited to speak by major corporations, organizations, and national platforms including:
- The NBA
- Gatorade
- Taco Bell Foundation
- Ernst & Young
- John Hope Reconciliation Center
- National Minority Business Economic Forum
- Young Entrepreneur Institute
- Social Enterprise Alliance
- California Alliance of Child & Family Services
- My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
- GoFundMe
- Chicago Public Schools
Whether he’s addressing students, educators, athletes, corporate professionals, or community leaders, Jahkil’s story resonates. His delivery is rooted in passion, authenticity, relatability, and action, combining the perspective of someone who began leading at an unusually young age with the evolving experiences of a young adult navigating college, athletics, entrepreneurship, purpose, and life in the public eye.
To meet growing demand, Jahkil created the Don’t Wait To Be Great Social Entrepreneurship Workshop Series—a dynamic program that combines community service, leadership, and business principles to help young people discover their purpose and turn ideas into real-world impact.
Popular Speaking Topics
- Finding Your Passion – Jahkil’s Social Entrepreneurial Journey
Audience: Middle & High School Students - Change Starts With You – Activating Youth-Led Impact
Audience: Middle & High School Students and K–12 Educators - Helping Your Community – Purpose in Action
Audience: Middle & High School Students - Using Your Voice – Advocacy, Identity & Empowerment
Audience: Middle & High School Students - Built to Lead – Unlocking Your Leadership Potential
Audience: Middle & High School Students, Youth Organizations - Built Different – Resilience, Confidence & Embracing What Makes You Different
Audience: Middle & High School Students, College Students, Athletes & Youth Conferences - Stay Ready, Stay Motivated – Resilience, Confidence & the Long Game
Audience: Middle & High School Students, College Students, Athletes & Youth Conferences
If you’re looking for a speaker who can inspire, connect, and challenge audiences to turn purpose into action, invite Jahkil Jackson to your next event.
Available for: School Assemblies • College & University Events • Youth Conferences • Workshops • Panels • Keynotes • Corporate Events • Athlete & Leadership Events
Interested in having Jahkil speak, but don’t see a topic above that fits your audience? Contact us for a consultation to customize a presentation around the goals and needs of your event.
Looking for further engagement for your student group? Click here to learn more about the Don’t Wait To Be Great Social Entrepreneurship Workshop Series.
Books
Don't Wait to Be Great shares Jahkil's journey as a student-athlete and young social entrepreneur, including the creation of Project I Am and his mission to raise awareness about homelessness. The book brings community service and entrepreneurship together to inspire young readers to discover their purpose, take action and create change in their communities.
$15.99 Autographed Copy
Built Different is a motivational guide for young adults, written by Jahkil Jackson, that blends real-life stories, honest reflection, and practical advice to help youth navigate life, leadership, and purpose. Drawing from his experiences as a student-athlete, entrepreneur, and changemaker, Jahkil offers insight into handling pressure, finding your passion, pushing through setbacks, and staying focused in a world full of distractions. With a powerful message of resilience, self-belief, and service, Built Different reminds readers that they don’t have to wait to be great — they already have what it takes to lead, inspire, and thrive.
$19.99 Autographed Copy
“The best-selling children’s book “I Am” helps kids learn kindness and empathy. “I AM” also implements values that can help with navigating being bullied and build a strong sense of self-worth. Complete with a self-affirmation exercise, this book is a creative display of how to have belief in oneself and to not be concerned with negative influences of the world."
Buy "I Am" on AmazonPhilanthropy
What began with a desire to help people experiencing homelessness has grown into more than a decade of service.
Through Project I Am, the nonprofit Jahkil founded at just 8 years old, he has helped raise nearly $1 million and impacted more than 250,000 men, women, and children worldwide through Blessing Bags, community service, and other initiatives supporting people in need.
Under Jahkil’s leadership, Project I Am has expanded its reach across the United States and internationally, serving communities in Ghana, Eswatini, India, London, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and beyond.
Just as important as the people served are the young people Jahkil has inspired to serve. More than 3,000 youth changemakers have participated in Project I Am’s efforts, demonstrating that age should never be a barrier to making an impact.
Today, Jahkil continues to inspire the next generation of servant leaders, community builders, and social entrepreneurs to find their passion, take action, and make a difference.
Don’t Wait to Be Great.
BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Jahkil brings together sports, lifestyle, storytelling and social impact to create authentic connections between brands and his audience. From national campaigns to original social content, he partners with brands that naturally align with his life, interests and values.
His previous work includes collaborations and campaigns across sports, lifestyle, fashion, wellness and youth culture, allowing Jahkil to bring his personality and perspective to each partnership in an authentic way.
Interested in working with Jahkil? Let’s create something meaningful together.
Merch
To encourage others to do their best at whatever they do, Jahkil created Trophies By Naeem, a line of shirts, hoodies and pillows. A portion of the proceeds from Trophies By Naeem goes to support Project I Am.
HOW CAN WE CONNECT?
Looking to volunteer, donate or support Project I Am? Visit WeAreProjectIAm.com
