Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins facts for kids

Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins is an important leader who has worked to make sure everyone has a voice in democracy. She served as the president of the League of Women Voters of the United States for two terms. This organization helps people understand government and encourages them to vote. She was the first woman of color to lead the League in its first 100 years.

Early Life and Education

Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952. She grew up during the Civil Rights Movement in America. This was a time when many people worked hard to gain equal rights for all. This movement inspired her to get involved in helping her community.

She went to Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio. In 1974, she earned a bachelor's degree in education and political science. Later, she continued her studies, earning a master's degree from John Carroll University. She also received another advanced degree from Kent State University. In 1991, she earned her doctorate from Cleveland State University. Her studies focused on how schools were organized and how this affected different groups of students.

Career and Public Service

Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins worked in the Cleveland public schools from 1979 to 1993. She then became a principal at Taylor Academy until 1995. After that, she worked for Junior Achievement, an organization that teaches young people about business.

She joined the League of Women Voters in 1982. This group works to empower voters and defend democracy. In 1996, she led a big campaign called "Get Out the Vote." This effort helped register more than 50,000 new voters across the country.

Leading the League of Women Voters

In 1998, Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins was elected as the 15th President of the League of Women Voters. She was re-elected for a second term, serving until 2002. She made history as the first woman of African descent to lead the League.

During her time as president, the League helped pass a law called the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in 2002. This law aimed to make political campaigns fairer by closing loopholes in how money was raised and spent. She also worked to increase voting by using public awareness ads. She wanted more people to participate in democracy and helped the League grow its membership.

In 2001, she moderated a special meeting in Denver. At this meeting, Kofi Annan, who was the head of the United Nations, spoke. He helped people in the United States understand how the United Nations works to fight terrorism.

After leaving the League, she continued her work in education. She worked for the National Center for Education and the Economy. She also worked at the University of Colorado at Denver. Later, she retired from Douglas County Schools Colorado. Today, she works with the Center for Racial Justice in Education. Since 2018, she has also been a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Awards and Honors

Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins has received many awards for her important work:

• In 2001, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Civic Engagement from Cleveland State University.
• In 2010, the Girl Scouts of Colorado named her one of eleven "Women of Distinction."
• In 2020, she received the Freedom Summer 1964 Award from Miami University.
• In 2021, she was the main speaker at the graduation ceremony for Miami University. She also received an honorary doctorate degree during this event.
• She also received the "Civic Leadership Award" from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.