Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation
/ Dare to Dream
Many world-class athletes bask in fame and fortune, only to fade into obscurity when the spotlight turns to shadow. Fortunately, for the city of East St. Louis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was cut from a different cloth. Regarded by many as the greatest female athlete of all-time, this Olympic track and field champion chose a path from worldwide stardom to return home with an even greater purpose.
Through tireless work and a commitment to ensuring every youth is given the opportunity to achieve greatness, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has grown to become a safe haven and learning-rich environment for area youth. Where the challenges and limitations of one of America’s most notoriously deadly and impoverished cities will never define where a child can go, or who they can become.
"The one thing every athlete wants and needs is somebody who's as motivated and committed as she is. Someone who's willing to work hard along with her."
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee
/ After School Program
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation After School program is a fun interactive program for youth ages 5-18. Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s After School program begins in August until May and runs from 2:30pm-6pm. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation provides transportation to local schools in the East St. Louis school district 189. Youth participate and a wide variety of activities including Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s Winning in Life, STEAM, Arts & Crafts, Fitness, Recreation, Agriculture, Spanish, and much more.
At the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, we engage youth in several in-house programs led by our youth. Programs include Black history, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Juneteenth. Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation’s After School Program provides a nutritional dinner and snack as well as transportation home after programming.
/ Youth Athletics
Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s athletics is based around Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s Winning in Life curriculum! Our athletes and teams are top tier. JJK’s athletics are led by leaders and coaches in the community where they teach valuable and meaningful structure, sportsmanship, and life lessons.
At the end of each sports season, athletes and coaches are celebrated with a sports banquet where the athletes are presented with awards such as trophies, Winning in Life metals, and/or plaques.
/ Summer Camp
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Summer Camp is a fun interactive daily program for youth ages 5-18. Campers will participate in a variety of interactive activities including Jackie Joyner-Kersee’s Winning in Life®, STEAM-Ag, Arts & Crafts, Fitness & Recreation, Nutrition, Agriculture, Spanish, and much more within a positive nurturing environment! In addition, we also incorporate 3 mini camps. Seed-to-table, USDA corn grant, and Boeing, where our campers enjoy educational activities, classes, cooking lessons, and field trips outside of the original JJK Camp. Additionally, all campers enjoy field trips every Friday to special places that complement each week’s theme and activities.
The 8-week Summer Camp begins on June 9th – August 1st and will run from 7:30 am – 6pm with breakfast, lunch, and a snack provided each day. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Summer Camp is not your typical summer camp. Youth who attend the JJK Foundation Summer Camp will have fun, be exposed to new and exciting opportunities, and will be empowered to win in life!
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation Summer Camp is not your typical summer camp. Campers are exposed to new and exciting opportunities, and will be empowered to win in life!
/ Education Programs
At the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation we recognize that the future is full of all things Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM), so we make it a major emphasis in our programming. Our students are led to think creatively and critically while still having fun and being kids. Our programming for STEAM includes age-appropriate projects and activities.
ROBOTICS
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
LIFE SCIENCES
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
SCIENCE FAIR
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
MATH
We keep kids interested in math in many ways, one being a competitive Mathathon. This is like a spelling bee, but with math problems.
READING PROGRAM
Our staff reading specialists work with students to get them up to the reading level for their grade. We provide reading enrichment programs and monitor each child’s progress.
CAREER DAY
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
At the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation we know that life extends much farther from our doors. So, we encourage our parents to be involved in their children’s lives. We always enjoy it when we have parents sign up to chaperone a field trip or coach their kids’ athletics teams.
SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS
Each year, our kids choose a career they’re interested in pursuing. They come to Career Day dressed for their chosen career and present information about it to their peers and parents.
Foreign Language
This recently implemented program has been very impactful. Our Youth Development Professionals have been working on introducing foreign languages to our students. For example, our students are learning introductions, days of the week, familial words, and much more. This is the first introduction to a secondary language for many of our students and has been very successful.
Sign Language
This brand-new program has been extremely impactful to not only our youth but also our staff. Our kids are learning the basics/introduction to ASL (American Sign Language). This will allow our students to interact with the Deaf and hard of hearing community!
