A Young Leader With a Global Mission
Before he was a teenager, Jahkil Naeem Jackson was already doing the work that many adults never begin. At just 8 years old, the Chicago native founded Project I Am, a nonprofit dedicated to building “Blessing Bags” — care packages filled with essentials for people experiencing homelessness.
Today, Jahkil is internationally recognized as one of the most influential youth changemakers in the world, with his organization distributing over 100,000 Blessing Bags across the United States and multiple countries, including India, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Haiti.
(Sources: Project I Am nonprofit site; CNN Young Wonder; Obama Foundation)
His work has earned praise from celebrities, national nonprofits, and former President Barack Obama, who recognized Jahkil as one of his 2017 Obama Foundation “Heroes”.
How Blessing Bags Became a Global Force
Jahkil’s inspiration came after helping his aunt distribute food to people without stable housing in Chicago. Moved by the experience, he wanted to do more. Within months, he created the first run of Blessing Bags — gallon-sized packs containing hygiene products, snacks, socks, wipes, hand sanitizers, water, and other essentials.
His mission spread quickly. Schools, churches, athletes, local organizations, and thousands of volunteers have since partnered with Project I Am to assemble and distribute bags nationwide.
Blessing Bags now serve:
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People experiencing homelessness
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Youth in foster care
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Families in crisis shelters
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Disaster relief survivors
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International communities with limited access to basic supplies
This isn’t charity for Jahkil — it’s dignity. And he’s built a model that empowers young people, in particular, to take action in their own cities.
A Leader Shaping the Next Generation
Jahkil doesn’t just hand out bags — he teaches. Through youth workshops, speaking tours, and virtual events, he has mobilized tens of thousands of kids to create their own community service projects.
He’s been named:
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CNN Young Wonder
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BET “Black Excellence” Honoree
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Youth Ambassador for Heartland Alliance
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Three-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award
Project I Am has also partnered with NBA and NFL teams, companies such as Nike and Disney, and community organizations that aim to learn how to activate youth-led volunteerism.
This level of leadership from someone born in 2008 is extraordinary — and proof that humanitarian work has no age limit.
A Chicago Story Rooted in Love
Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Jahkil has always spoken openly about wanting to uplift the city that raised him. He and his family still personally distribute hundreds of Blessing Bags throughout Chicago each year — often in below-zero weather — to ensure that the city’s most vulnerable residents are not forgotten.
Even as the project expands internationally, Chicago remains the heart of the mission.
What’s Next for Jahkil
Now a teenager, Jahkil shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to expand Project I Am through:
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Large-scale “bag build” events
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School partnerships nationwide
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Youth empowerment keynotes
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International service trips
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Social entrepreneurship initiatives
His long-term goals include building resource centers for unhoused communities and teaching more young people how to launch their own service-based nonprofits.
At every step, his message stays the same: You’re never too young to make a difference.
A Legacy of Service in Real Time
At Uptown Sunday, we spotlight Black leadership that lifts communities from the inside out. Jahkil Jackson isn’t waiting to grow up to change the world — he’s changing it now, one Blessing Bag and one empowered young person at a time.
His journey proves that real impact doesn’t start with millions of dollars — it starts with compassion, consistency, and the courage to act.
🖤 Here’s to Jahkil — a young king building a future rooted in care, community, and purpose
