Morgan Smith has been selected as the far west region teen president of Jack and Jill of America Inc. Smith, who hails from the Santa Clarita/Antelope Valley Chapter will lead the Jack and Jill 2016-2017 national teen board. The board consists of seven high school seniors poised to strengthen their leadership skills while serving the community.
Each national teen board member was elected by their peers at regional Jack and Jill teen conferences held across the nation. The teen president selection process included being nominated by their peers and campaigning for the position. The nominees create campaign materials, produce a display and deliver campaign speeches to their respective chapters. Once chosen, their duties consist of appointing other officers, presiding over meetings and planning teen conferences. They also serve as a page for the annual Jack and Jill of America National Convention or the group’s National Legislative Summit.
The elected teens are accomplished in academics, community and volunteer service, and each president leads and inspires his or her chapter and regional members in a unique way.
Smith attends West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch and is a member of the Future Doctors Association, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Science Olympiad. Smith aspires to obtain a pilot’s license and one day, become an astronaut.
Founded in 1938, Jack and Jill grew out of the community work of 20 African American mothers in Philadelphia, Pa. They wanted their children to have cultural opportunities, develop leadership skills, and form social networks. The founding members, led by Marion Stubbs Thomas, believed their children would benefit from such a group, where these skills would be properly developed and social networks could be formed to help them deal with the injustices during what was then an undeniable segregated society. Today the organization has more than 220 chapters in seven regions throughout the country representing more than 30,000 family members. Jack and Jill of America is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and can be contacted at: jackandjillinc.org
