February 2021 Newsletter

Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated
Gary/ NW Indiana Chapter
February 2021

Gary/Northwest Indiana Chapter (1954) In this Issue

If a race has no history, if it has Vice President’s Message
no worthwhile tradition, it
Page 2
becomes a negligible factor in the
thought of the world, and it COVID-19 Update
stands in danger of being
exterminated. Page 3
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson
Digital Cheetah

Page 4

History Makers

Page 5

Grade Groups Shine

Page 6-7

Super Bowl of Caring

Page 8

The Work of JnJ

Page 9

Chucks and Pearls

Page 10

Children’s Cluster

Page 11

Informational Tea

Page 12-13

Jack and Jill Goes Red

Page 14-15

Mother’s Spotlight

Page 16

Associate Corner

Page 17

Dates to Remember

Page 18

Vice President’s Message

I bring you gracious greetings as the Vice President of your Great
Gary Northwest Indiana Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
May this message meet each Mother Member in the fullness of
Health and happiness.

As we embark on the halfway mark of our first year, I hold true to
the value of our awesome President LaToya Neal and reiterate "the
business of Jack and Jill must go on". We all have been affected in
our way and 2020 will forever be etched in our hearts as a year of
perseverance, strength and endurance.

I speak on behalf of the Membership Committee in expressing gratitude for the
many small successes achieved in "such a time as this".
• Record attendance for various National and Regional events, 44th National

Convention, Virtual Area Workday Cluster, CCOE Founders' Day Tea
• GNWI has the highest number of participants for Mid-Western Region's

Leadership Academy
• Average attendance for Monthly Mothers' Meetings 85% and over 65%

attendance for chapter wide events such as Jack & Jill Day, Community Duffle
Bag Day, Holiday Party, Teen Grocery Drive By Drop Off, and Informational Tea
• Facebook page has increased hits daily making the chapter more visible and
accessible
• Programming continues to be innovative and creative meeting the needs of our
children in this virtual world
• Foundation Committee has kept us in line with our true purpose by creating
opportunities to serve and cultivate all children and our community
• 10 PNMs participated in our Informational Tea and 9 have been submitted and
sponsored by 7 Mother Members
• Chapter engagement opportunities such as Monthly Meeting Host Theme, Social
Scene Group Me Page, and our GNWI Newsletter will continue to help us
strengthen our bond as Sister Mothers

Yes! We Can Do More; yet we thank those Mother Members who work tirelessly for
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. We also hold close to those Mother Members who may
be trying to find their way through this pandemic. We will not let you fall but please
allow us to connect to wherever your need may be because we need you.
We look forward to our Chapter Retreat, which will allow us to continue to
strengthen, develop and excel toward a higher purpose. We remain committed to
each Mother Member to ensure their family is getting their full value from their
journey in the Jack & Jill Experience. and we ask for your continued patience as we
find the best way to meet your needs.

In Service:

Vice President Dakita Jones

UPDATE

COVID-19 Programming Updates:

● All Regional Conferences and related activities occurring during the Spring and Summer

● of 2021 must be held virtually. No in-person conferences will take place.
Regions and Chapters must at all times follow their state, county, and/or city guidelines

and regulations regarding safety and social/physical distance and assembly practices
during the pandemic. As a result, if the government’s requirements are stricter than this

● guidance, the applicable regulations must be followed.
The minimum requirements to engage in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. activities

regardless of local or state laws are as follows:

○ Any gathering taking place indoors must not exceed 50 people.
○ Any in-person gathering must include an appropriate mask worn at all times that

covers both the nose and the mouth, and attendees must exercise social distance.

○ Hand-sanitizers must be present at all activities and be sufficient in quantity for all

attendees.

○ Children whose parents choose to opt-out of an in-person chapter experience must

be provided with an alternate way for them to participate in the scheduled activity or

provided an activity of comparable quality.

○ Children requiring special accommodations should be considered during the activity

● planning process.
Guests will not be permitted to attend in-person activities. All participants must be enrolled

Mother Members, Associates, Fathers, Children, and Teens of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

○ Chapters should fully discuss and decide when and where they will engage in in-person

activities. Recommended considerations are:
○ Group size (no more than 50 for indoor activities)
○ Location
○ Social distancing capability
●
The Medical Liability and Release and Code of Conduct forms must be signed by the Mother

Member before engagement in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. activities. These forms should have

● been completed at the start of the program year.
Virtual/Hybrid Ceremonies - Guidelines for conducting virtual and hybrid ceremonies will be

provided by the National Protocol and National Membership Committees in February. Please keep

in mind that hybrid ceremonies will require the technological capability for all participants to be

● visible and able to engage at the same time.
Virtual/Hybrid Fundraisers- Recommendations for virtual fundraisers may be directed to your

Regional Member-At-Large. All planned indoor fundraisers must strictly follow this guidance.



Enter the Mid-Western Region
Black History Month Contest

"I Am A History Maker"

Who: Jack and Jill youth and young adults (Pre K - 12th grade)

What: Entrants must submit their contest entry with original artwork, a poem or short
history reflection. One entry may be submitted per person. Age appropriate contest links
below include simple history questions and a chance to demonstrate individual creativity
and personal history stories. The contest offers an exciting opportunity to engage youth
and young adults, spark family conversation and teach core Jack and Jill information.

Judges will determine the top four entries and winners will receive a prize pack inclusive
of Jack and Jill swag and recognition. The chapter with the most entries will also be
recognized. The top entries and excerpts from various submissions will be posted to
Jack and Jill Mid-Western Region communication platforms.

When: The contest links will be available on February 7, 2021. The contest will
close February 28, 2021 at 9:00 pm (EST). Winners will be celebrated during the
month of March - Women's History Month.

Why: Black History
Month is an excellent
time to uplift Jack and
Jill History. Our young
people are exceptional
story tellers and we want
to increase opportunities to
learn and share history.
Combined with basic
history questions and a
chance to highlight chapter
experiences, we invite
children of all ages to
submit an original work to
be shared with our
community. Together we
can uplift, preserve and
expand the Jack and Jill
story.

GROUP 3
Yoga and
Positive
Self-Talk

In January, Group 3
worked to strengthen

their mental and
physical health through

yoga! After yoga the
Jacks andwoJrkieldlsto shared

their own personal
affirmations and

watched a video on the
importance and impact
of positive affirmations.

Teen
Leadership

in Action

On February 20, the Teens participated in the Super
Saturday Symposium with our Cincinnati Chapter.

This event featured a virtual panel where teens
learned how they can impact, elevate, and advocate

for causes that are important to them. Both our
Teen President, Naajah Brandon, and Teen Vice
President, James George, served as presenters for

this event!



The Work of Jack and Jill Continues

The chapter newsletter is a reflection of our
chapter and serves as a record for future
generations of what our chapter did at this
time. Imagine when your legacy becomes a
mother or father, or your future grandchild
Jack or Jill….what would you like them to
know about your life in Jack and Jill when
they go through our archives?

Share your accomplishments, your grade group activities and
your success with us for our upcoming newsletters.
Post in the Main Chapter GroupMe
Email: [email protected]
Text/Call: 219-616-2438

2020-2022 Committee Chairs

Social Committee - Chair Nina Greer
Jack and Jill Day - Chair Michele Lee
Audit Committee - Chair Gina Jones

Legislative - Chair Tracy Coleman
Budget - Treasurer Michelle Wainwright

Membership - VP Jones
Bylaws- Parliamentarian Camille Lee

Programming - PD Tanya
Fundraising - Open

Protocol/Courtesy - Chair Brandy Darling
Health - Chair Latasha Taylor

Publicity - Chairs Nakia Sprouse & TaShena Melton
Hospitality - Chair Enith Miles-Walters
Technology - Chair Kerchell Hobson

Black Family Day - Chair Erica Williamson
Grievance - President Neal Mentor - VP Jones

Holiday - Chair Angie Pearson
Foundation/Service - Chair Jackie George

On January 21, 2021, Kamala
Harris became the United States'

first female vice president, the
highest-ranking female official in
U.S. history, and the first African

American and first Asian
American vice president.
Throughout the moth of January
the Gary/NW Indiana Chapter
mothers celebrated Vice
President Harris in Chucks and

Pearls!

Chicagoland Virtual Children’s Cluster

This will be a completely virtual Cluster experience and the
Milwaukee Chapter Mothers have worked tirelessly to design a fun-

filled and engaging experience for our children and tweens.

March 20, 2021

Registration Now Open

On January 24th, In a program year full of firsts, we
hosted out First Virtual Informational. The tea
themed event began with each Prospective New

Member being sent a box of tea essentials! Followed
by our membership committee hosting a virtual event

where our current chapter members were able to
meet the PNMs. Despite the ability to physically be all

together, the Membership Committee hosted a
wonderful event where the PNMs shared their
reasons for interest in Jack and Jill, along with their
ideas that they seek to bring to the chapter if extended

membership.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

March 16: PNM Booklet Distribution
March 18: Chapter Ballot Vote

April 25: New Member Orientation
May 20: New Member Initiation Ceremony

Be in the know:
Heart disease claims the lives of 1 in 3 women-

more than al forms of cancer combined.

National President Kornisha Brown will be a guest
panelist for the American Heart Association

Milwaukee Go Red Couch Conversation on February
23rd at 6:30pm EST/ 5:30pm CST. Come show your

support as we close out Heart Healthy Month!

Registration
Required

MOTHER
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT

Congratulations to Mother
Member LaVada Taylor on her

first book release:
Implications of Race and
Racism in Student Evaluations
of Teaching: The Hate U Give.
Her book looks at practices in

higher education to
deconstruct student course

feedback to reveal
implications of race and
inherent in student responses
mirroring learned behavior
situated within the social-
political context of US culture
and K12 schools. This work
speaks to systemic racial
inequity in higher education

learning spaces and
possibilities of reimagining
student evaluations as a cry
for a more just and equitable

society.

ASSOCIATES
CORNER

Congratulations to our
Associate's Chair for
the Gary/Northwest
Indiana chapter for
answering the call to
serve! Without
hesitation, Associate
Rochelle Moody
graciously accepted
the call to serve as the
Associates Chair for

our chapter. We value
and appreciate her

dedication to serve on
behalf of our beloved

organization.

Associate Rochelle is
pictured below with
daughter, and Jack
and Jill Alum, Xavia.

Reminder:

Look out for the Regional RAP Up Weekly
newsletter email. (This may go directly to

spam or Promotions folders.)

DATES TO REMEMBER:

March 20: Chicagoland Children’s Cluster
May 15: Regional Day of Service

June 4-6: Leadership Summit (Virtual)u
June 17-20: Teen Leadership Conference (Virtual)
July 15-18: Mother’s Regional Conference (Virtual)

SAVE THE DATE:

Mid-Western Region will be hosting the
2024 National Convention to be held in Minneapolis