Announcements
2025 Making History NOW! Black History Month Series
Black History month was created to focus on and honor the contributions of African Americans, as most of them had largely been forgotten or were not included when history was told. It has since been transformed in the U.S. to not only celebrate past accomplishments and have discussions that go beyond racism, it is now used to highlight the leadership, success and achievements of African Americans in our Society.
This month we will be spotlighting so many accomplished African American children who show that age really is just a number. They prove no matter how young everyone can be creative, strong, smart and have a hand in changing the world. Check out what they have already accomplished!
Koffi Jacques Olivier N'Guessan
Entrepreneur
N’guessan has a dream that one day his continent will be self-sufficient and no longer rely on imports. He does more than just dream about it, though. In 2021 he launched the startup Tyegro, which produces leather made from pineapple fibers. This was after he noticed that the products like cocoa that were grown on the Ivory Coast were not reaping all of the benefits they could. They were only focusing on growing the products and not manufacturing any goods.
So in 2016, at the age of 22, he turned his ambition from farming to creating 100% sustainable products. His start-up was incubated by Hub Africa and was awarded the Anzisha Prize of $25,000 to go towards his mission.
Jeremiah One and Five Fennell
12 Year Old Sports Commentator/Journalist
Jeremiah was not expected to walk or talk when he was born. His first language was sign language. TODAY he has been a sports reporter featured on FOX, Jenneifer Hudson’s show, interviewed Davante Adams on the sidelines of a Raiders game and has a YouTube channel with over 25,000 subscribers!
Kortnee Solomon
11 Year Old Cowgirl
Kortnee is the daughter of tie-down roper Cory Solomon and 11-time invitational champion Kanesha Jackson - competing is in her blood! She rode in the Bill Pickett Invitational at just 5 years old. Then when Covid restrictions started to lift in 2021 that same rodeo became the first televised Black Rodeo and Kortnee, now 11 years old, made history alongside the cowgirls and cowboys. In many events she is the only girl so far and she’s used to it now at 14 years old she continues to win numerous championships and be a role model for other young black women!
Legacy Jackson
Non-profit Founder
At the age of two, Legacy got a glimpse of unhoused people on a cold Christmas morning in downtown St. Louis while her mother and teen brother were handing out hats, gloves and warm soup to those in need. At four, she began to notice that during the family’s monthly routine of helping those in need, she was the only child in the group. She wanted to ensure all children had a childhood full of laughter and children’s activities like her own.
This is how Little Legacies was created in 2016. It’s a non-profit for kids to get together and plan monthly community service missions. From coloring Easter Eggs with children at a homeless shelter to collecting 3,645 pairs of shoes for those that need them in Africa, Little Legacies is helping kids get involved in changing the world for the better.
Grace Moore
One of NY Philharmonic’s Youngest Composers
In the Summer of 2020, at the age of 12 Grace participated in the Pholharmonic’s Very Young Composers program, a program open to kids of all musical abilities. Being inspired by what was happening in the world around her she composed her piece “Summer”. She became the youngest person to have their composition played by the New York Philharmonic. Showing the world that talent and creativity do not have an age, even the youngest of us can make a powerful impact with our talents.
Aalayah Eastmond
Activist and Advocate for Gun Violence Prevention
From a young age Aalayah’s live was touched by gun violence. First her uncle was a victim in Brooklyn, NY and then her “breaking point” was during the Parkland shooting, hiding under a slain classmate at 16 to survive. She has testified about that traumatizing day before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees and served as an executive council member of Team Enough. A survivor-founded and survivor-led data driven anti-gun violence group. She continues to be a voice for change and to start conversations about gun violence, police brutality and poverty. She stated her call for justice at the feet of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington: “We demand to live in peace. We demand to live in spaces where the best of Black culture can thrive, where Black men are more likely to have a mortgage and a picket fence than a record, where Black women are business executives and vice presidents.”
Jay’Aine Patton
Teen Tech Genius
Jay’Aine found out firsthand as a kid how hard it is to communicate with a parent who is incarcerated while her father was in prison. Her father learned to code in prison and created Photo Patch, a website that allowed parents and children to keep in touch without being charged. Once he was released, Jay’Aine helped him build out the site and create an app at the age of 12! Today they have connected over 75,000 youth with their incarcerated parents and mailed over 1 million photos to parents in prison.
Bo Jensen
Strongest Kid in the World
At 9 years old, Bo had one goal: to make it to the 2021 NAtional Powelifting Meet and become the strongest kid in the world. Not only did he win the Strongest Kid In the World Title in 2021 but, he has done it for four years straight so far! In order to accomplish this he says “I had to squat 315, bench 170, and deadlift 357 pounds.” He doesn’t just dominate with his strength though, he also has won the Kansas City and American Home Run Derbies. This double threat hopes to make it to the MLB one day and help the Royals win the World Series. That is after he graduates in 2030.
Tahj “Queen Tahj” Williams
First Black Women to Handcraft the Super Bowl Logo
As the NFL travels to the “Big Easy” this year for the Super Bowl it will bring with it for the first time Black and Native American artistic legacy. This year's logo was created by “Queen Taj” she painstakingly hand sewed beads and sequence of pinks, deep reds and greens to represent the vibrancy of New Orleans and the true history of the Black Masking culture. The art of Black Masking has been a tradition for centuries. It features hand-sewn suites full of beads, feathers, and rhinestones, meant as a way for African Americans to show thanks for Native Americans who provided refuge during slavery. It is a way to spotlight and celebrate their community resilience. “Queen Taj” being no stranger to football as the only female captain of her middle school football team, was the perfect choice for this first of its kind display of culture and artistry.
“This partnership is a dream come true and an opportunity to share the beauty of Black Masking culture with the world,” says Williams. As the NFL puts her work front stage it won’t just be about beauty. It will be a celebration of community, culture, and the history and power of Black creativity!
Dorothy Tillman
Youngest person the receive a Doctoral from Arizona State’s College
Dorothy excelled at school work by age 7 she was doing high school work and at age 14 had earned an Associates in Physcology, Bachelors in Humanity and Liberal Arts, AND Masters of Science. So it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that at 17 she became Dr. Dorothy Jean Tillman and accepted her PHD in Integrated Behavioral Health at the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions convocation. She didn’t just stop there though during her college years she launched her STEAM Camp appropriately named DorothyJeanius STEAM Camp. With all of the success she has had so far she knows that it came from the support around her and credits her family for helping her achieve so much already. “It’s teamwork that makes the dream work,” she said. “It is a village that builds the land.”