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Columbus Chapter History

The Columbus Chapter was among the history makers established in the mid 1940’s as part of the first ten original chapters of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Founded in 1946, we were the eighth chapter established in the national organization and the original chapter that began the Mid-Western Region.

Charter members included Mary Anderson, Myrna Beatty, Constance Bruce, Louise Colston, Inez Dillard, Lula Evans, Marie Kent, Constance King, Phoebe Layton, Mary Reid and Variah Thomas. Edna Mapp was the first chapter president.
Columbus, OH is a four-time, Five Star chapter. This is the highest honor a chapter can receive, and is awarded to chapters that demonstrate leadership and operational excellence.

A Legacy of Leadership

There have been two national presidents from the Columbus Chapter: Eleanor DeLoache Brown and Alberta Banner Turner, Ph.D., who also served as the national vice president. Other national officers from the Columbus area include Constance Bruce, who served twice as national corresponding secretary. In 2021, Jami Jones Ervin was elected to serve as the Mid-Western Region Member-at-Large.

The Columbus Chapter is proud to have alumni who designed the logo that was adopted in 1998, along with the past National President of the Jack and Jill Foundation, Charles Noble, III, JD. 
True to our mission to nurture future African-American leaders, several members of the Columbus, OH chapter have served in regional offices:
  • Shari Hicks-Graham | Mid-Western Regional Teen Vice President 
  • Carter Minor | Mid-Western Regional Teen President 
  • McKenzie Harmon | Mid-Western Regional Teen Chaplain
  • Kayla Farris | Mid-Western Regional Nominating Committee
  • ​Greyson Thomas | Mid-Western Regional Nominating Committee

Regional and National Engagement 

The Columbus, Ohio Chapter has hosted many regional and national conventions, conferences and clusters including:
  • 2nd National Convention in April 1947. The theme was “The Responsibility of Jack and Jill Mothers.” The convention opened with the full participation of all ten existing chapters.
  • Mid-Western Regional Teen Conference in 1966, 1976, 1995, 2017, and 2023.
  • 26th Mid-Western Regional Mothers’ Conference in July 2009. The theme was “Standing on the Promises to Our Children: Let’s Rise.”
  • Northern Ohio Children’s Cluster at Sports Ohio in March 2011. The theme was “Cultivating Leadership through Health and Physical Fitness.” Over 70 children participated in a program that included team sports, activities, and a tween apprentice program.
  • Michigan/Ohio Mothers’ Regional Cluster in 2014.
  • Northern Ohio Children’s Cluster on March 9, 2019, which boasted over 100 children and tweens. The theme was “Ride The Jack & Jill Express” Full STEAM Ahead to Aspire and Achieve a Greater You! The 2019 Children’s Cluster focused on STEAM related activities for children in kindergarten through 5th grade and entrepreneurship for the tweens. The event was held at The Point, a new science, technology, engineering, arts and math Innovation Center on the campus of Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.
  • The first Ohio Center of Excellence (COE) Founders’ Day and Associate Appreciation Brunch at Jefferson Country Club in Blacklick, Ohio, held on January 26th, 2020. The theme was “The Ties That Bind: Embracing Our Past—Looking Forward to Our Future”. The event welcomed national and regional guest speakers National President Danielle Brown, National Vice President Tanya Hand, and Regional Director Nadine Gibson as guest speakers.
  • 2024 Ohio Children’s Cluster with the theme S.T.E.A.M. Powered Dreams located at the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University.​​
Organizational Links

Jack & Jill of America, Inc. 
Mid-Western Region
Jack & Jill Foundation

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