Since he was five-years-old, 10-year-old Chicago-native Jahkil Jackson has been on a mission to help those less fortunate. On the surface, he is a regular-kid that tap dances, plays basketball, likes to act and model, but down deep, he is an entrepreneur who has his eye on not only helping the homeless but one day dreams of owning his own NBA team.
Jackson’s middle name is Naeem, which means to give without expecting anything back, and that is exactly what he has done. To date, the young rising philanthropist has given out over 6,000 Blessing Bags to the homeless. Blessing Bags contain basic items that those in need can use to help improve their lives.
However, Jackson hasn’t stopped there. He created Project I Am to encourage others to make a difference. In addition to his own work with Project I Am, Jackson also works closely with a host of other non-profit organizations that are on the same mission to make a difference.
Recently, this truly amazing young man, whose efforts have been recognized by President Barack Obama, sat down with Forbes Magazine for an interview. Check out an excerpt from the interview below.
Robyn Shulman: Jahkil, Can you please tell me about yourself?
Jahkil Jackson: I am a 10-year-old 5th grader from the South Side of Chicago. I have been tap dancing since I was 4, breakdancing since I was 7, and my favorite thing to do is play basketball. I am always playing in some form of a basketball tournament.
