About Us

---

The West Los Angeles Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated was chartered in September 2024 by forty-three (43) mothers from the West Los Angeles area. The Chapter was the vision of Jasmine Taylor, who, upon moving to Marina Del Rey, recognized a need for a new chapter to serve families in the West Los Angeles area. Jasmine shared her thoughts with her dear friend Charla Harris. Inspired by the vision, Charla committed to supporting Jasmine's efforts to establish this Chapter. Soon, Faithe Clary, a colleague of Jasmine's, joined the team, and together, they embarked on a mission to gather a group of dedicated mothers to form an Interest Group. 

Jasmine organized their first interest group meeting at the Marina Del Rey Farmers Market with the goal of recruiting twenty-five (25) mothers and reached that goal within a week. By week two, the group had doubled in size, and within three weeks, sixty-one (61) passionate mothers, known as the Mighty Moms, rallied around the goal of chartering the West Los Angeles Chapter of Jack & Jill. The Interest Group then met at the home of Sheri M. Streams in Brentwood for a brunch that was co-hosted with Mimi Nartey. During the brunch, the Interest Group met with the Far West Region's New Chapter Establishment Committee and the sponsoring Chapter's President. After this meeting, the Interest Group began to coalesce into a cohesive unit. Their collective commitment and determination led to their official Provisional Group status on November 8, 2023.

The newly minted Provisional Group diligently set about work that they felt from the beginning was historic. They knew they were building a community for their children and future generations. To that end, the group organized a robust Provisional Programming year, which included a Chapter Holiday Party, MLK Day of Service, Black Family Day Celebration, and two-part Annual Planning Mother's Retreat.  The year concluded with forty-three (43) remarkable families standing united to shape the future of the West Los Angeles Chapter.

Finally, it was time to present all of the great work of the West Los Angeles Provisional Group. Five (5) Provisional Group representatives, Jasmine Taylor, Chapter President; Mimi Nartey, Chapter Vice President; Charla Harris, Chapter Program Director; Sheri Streams, Chapter Parliamentarian; and Kenya Lee, Grade Group 1 Co-Chair, presented programming highlights during the 46th National Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. West Los Angeles joined an outstanding class of ten (10) distinguished chartering chapters nationwide.

On September 29, 2024, surrounded by family, friends, and esteemed National, Regional, and Local leaders, including National President Darlene Whittington, National Program Director Tasha B. Penny, and Regional Director JoAnne Curry, the West Los Angeles Chapter was officially chartered in a beautiful ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in Bel Air. Now, as a part of the nationwide Jack and Jill family of over 50,000 members, the chapter is committed to uplifting communities, fostering leadership, and creating opportunities for children and families across West Los Angeles.

The development of the regional structure was discussed by the organization from 1948 until 1957 when the Regional Plan of the organization was adopted at the annual convention held in San Francisco, California. However, as early as 1956, each of seven regions held Teen Conferences guided by seven elected or appointed Teen Regional Directors. Beginning in 1959, annual conventions were abolished and Regional Conferences alternated with bi-annual national conventions.

There are seven regions: Central, Eastern, Far West, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Western, South Central and Southeastern. Each region is led by a Regional Director and has a Secretary-Treasurer and Member-at-Large. The Regional structure was last amended during the convention in 1996. To learn more visit the Far West Region website.