Jahkil
Best-Selling Author | Student Athlete | Motivational Speaker | Philanthropist | Influencer
As Seen On:
Jahkil Jackson is a three-time best-selling author, social entrepreneur, motivational speaker, philanthropist, content creator, college student-athlete, and founder of Project I Am—a nonprofit he launched at just 8 years old to raise awareness about homelessness and inspire young people to make a difference.
What began with 88 “Blessing Bags” filled with essential items for people experiencing homelessness has grown into a global movement that has impacted more than 250,000 people and engaged more than 3,000 young changemakers in service.
Now 19, Jahkil has spent more than a decade turning his belief that young people should “Don’t Wait to Be Great” into a way of life.
His work has earned national and international recognition, including recognition from President Barack Obama for his impact as a young changemaker and honors as a CNN Hero Young Wonder, Marvel Hero, and Red Cross Youth Hero. His journey has been featured by The New York Times, Forbes, Essence, BET, and other media outlets around the world.
Jahkil is also a lifelong athlete whose passion for basketball began at an early age. Now competing as a college student-athlete, he brings the same discipline, resilience, leadership, and work ethic to the court that have shaped his journey off of it. Basketball has become another important part of his story, challenging him to navigate competition, setbacks, growth, teamwork, and the demands of pursuing multiple dreams at once.
As an author, Jahkil has translated different chapters of his life into three books designed to encourage and empower young people: I Am, Don’t Wait to Be Great, and Built Different. His writing explores themes ranging from self-worth and service to leadership, resilience, mental wellness, and discovering the confidence to embrace what makes you different.
Through Project I Am, Jahkil has helped raise nearly $1 million to support people in need and expand opportunities for youth to serve. The organization has distributed Blessing Bags throughout the United States and internationally while developing youth-led branches and introducing young people to social entrepreneurship, volunteerism, and community leadership.
Jahkil’s influence has also opened the door to collaborations with leading brands and organizations including Nike, the NBA, the Obama Foundation, and Crate & Barrel. His partnerships have allowed him to merge purpose, storytelling, sports, style, and social impact while remaining connected to the mission that started it all.
Today, Jahkil is stepping into a new chapter, balancing college, basketball, entrepreneurship, speaking, content creation, brand partnerships, and his continued leadership in the community.
Whether he’s on the court, behind a camera, speaking to a room of young people, collaborating with a brand, or serving his community, Jahkil continues to build his life around one message: Don’t Wait to Be Great.
For Jahkil, it’s more than a motto. It’s the mindset that has taken him from an 8-year-old with an idea to a young man building a life around purpose, passion, and possibility.
Athlete
Jahkil Jackson’s love for basketball began at just 4 years old in Chicago’s French Fry League and has grown into a lifelong passion.
Now a 6’3” combo guard and college student-athlete, Jahkil brings versatility, athleticism, strong court vision, and a competitive mindset to the game. Known for impacting both ends of the floor, he takes pride in creating opportunities for his teammates, rebounding from the guard position, and using his length and instincts defensively.
For Jahkil, basketball is more than a sport. It has taught him discipline, resilience, patience, and how to keep working when the journey doesn’t go exactly as planned. As he enters the next chapter of his athletic career, he remains focused on developing his game, competing at a high level, and becoming the best version of himself—on and off the court.
Speaking
Jahkil Jackson is an award-winning speaker, three-time best-selling author, social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and college student-athlete whose voice is redefining what leadership looks like for the next generation.
Named a “Social Entrepreneur to Look Out For” by Forbes and recognized by President Barack Obama for his work as a young changemaker, Jahkil brings powerful energy, real-life experience, and a unique ability to connect with audiences across generations. Having started his own nonprofit at just 8 years old, Jahkil speaks from more than a decade of lived experience in leadership, service, entrepreneurship, personal growth, and navigating the pressures that can come with pursuing big goals at a young age.
Jahkil has spoken at more than 75 schools, organizations, conferences, and events nationwide and internationally. As a TEDx presenter, CNN Hero: Young Wonder, and featured changemaker on Marvel’s Hero Project, Jahkil has proven his ability to move and motivate audiences of all ages. One of his standout moments includes speaking before 15,000+ students at WE Day Illinois, one of the largest youth empowerment gatherings of its kind.
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
"Best-selling author, 16-year-old Jahkil Jackson’s second book “Don’t Wait To Be Great” tells the story of Jahkil’s journey of being a student athlete and becoming one of the country’s top youth social entrepreneurs by creating Project I Am NFP to build awareness to homelessness. “Don’t Wait To Be Great” brings community service and entrepreneurship together to inspire and educate young readers on the importance of philanthropy and entrepreneurship. “Don’t Wait To Be Great” mobilizes youth to engage in efforts to achieve major social objectives, including employment creation, poverty reduction, inclusion and integration."
$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.
Collabs
Micro-Influencer Jahkil Jackson has built a trustworthy and relatable brand. Collaborate with Jahkil and create a big impact for your brand!
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.
Connect
