For a second year, PennLive marks Black History Month by recognizing “trailblazers and trendsetters”: leaders and advocates in central Pa. working to uplift their communities through their work, businesses, arts, ministries and mentorships.
In the coming weeks, we’ll publish more than 35 profiles of doctors, nurses, gardeners, ministers, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, philanthropists, restauranteurs, authors, actors and others. They were nominated by readers and, for the most part, are people who have rarely been in the spotlight. More people were nominated than we were able to include; we’ll keep the names of those people for future profiles.
We hope you enjoy reading about these trailblazers. If you missed last year’s, you can find links to them here.
Jamal Jones
Community: Harrisburg
Age: 46
His story: As a proud graduate of Harrisburg high school, Jamal Jones said it’s important to him that he use his education and experience to give back to his community.
Today he does that as program manager at the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harrisburg University. His role is to help entrepreneurs start their business ventures by offering guidance, advice and coaching.
He also helps direct them to resources, such as mentoring programs and business financing, while also staging community events aimed at individuals who may want to start their own businesses.
His journey began with earning a bachelor’s degree in English writing from Georgetown University, then spending a few years as director of an employment and training program for young adults in Harrisburg.
He went on to be named the city’s director of business development/LERTA administrator. It was his duty to support the needs of new and existing businesses by helping to address job retention and growth, expansion needs, and financial incentives.
He said it’s always been his passion to help others in need by helping develop programs that would provide them jobs.
Jones has worn many hats within the community. While in charge of employment and training programs for young adults across the south-central Pennsylvania region, he also managed federal workforce development contracts valued at over $1 million.
He attributes his successes to his skills in establishing strategic partnerships and building relationships with key stakeholders. To add to his accomplishments, he also is an MBA candidate at Louisiana State University - Shreveport.
While busy at the university, Jones still finds ways to give back serving on the board of the Camp Curtin YMCA and as a member of the advisory board of the Central PA Film Commission.
The city of Harrisburg recognized Jones in 2022 as a recipient of a Catalyst Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC for his work dealing with M&T Bank Multicultural Small Business Innovation Lab.
Jones hopes to leave a legacy — all the people that he helped achieve their business dreams and, along the way, boost the city of Harrisburg.
In his words: “My parents (James and Amy) are huge influences who taught me about the importance of helping others by being generous with your time and resources. Much of what I do is just to make them proud.”
“Hearing people say ‘thank you’ for the innovative programs and services that we offer may not seem like a big deal, but to me it is very rewarding.”
More Trailblazers & Trendsetters
- Here’s how these Trailblazers & Trendsetters are making their central Pa. communities better
- Giving voice to underrepresented communities: Trailblazers & Trendsetters
- Harrisburg woman’s art creates platform for entrepreneurship: Trailblazers and Trendsetters
- ‘Empowering the next generation’ is goal of nonprofit academy: Trailblazers and trendsetters
- Prosecutor sees her role as protecting community: Trailblazers & Trendsetters