February 2001

Janice Bryan was contacted by Francene H. Robinson, president of the Reston Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. concerning several residents of Loudoun County Virginia who were seeking membership into the Reston Chapter.  Knowing that Janice had recently moved to Loudoun County, and had been a member of the Alexandria/Mount Vernon Chapter, Francene asked Janice if she would organize chapter for Loudoun County, as the Reston Chapter had very few openings for new members.  Accepting the task, Janice wrote a letter to the National Vice President, Dr. Catherine Collins, stating a desire to have a chapter of Jack & Jill in Loudoun County.

March 18, 2001

Janice invited the prospective mothers who had been referred by the Reston Chapter, along with other interested mothers from Loudoun County for an afternoon tea at her home in Ashburn, Virginia.  Over thirty excited mothers met to discuss organizing a formal interest group in Loudoun County.  There was an overwhelming positive response to starting a mothers’ group with an emphasis on providing advantages for their own children as well as other African-American children in the community.  This enthusiasm inspired these mothers to continue the process of becoming a provisional chapter.

September 16, 2001

The first official interest group meeting was held at Sherri Robinson’s home.  It was there that the interest group was named Umoja for the Children.  Officers were elected at that meeting and included: Lena Hickman-Miott, 1st president; Kimberly Jenkins, 2nd president; Jacqueline Williams, vice–president; Alisha Hall, parliamentarian; Joni Blizzard, treasurer; Harvetta Spann, recording secretary; Sherri Robinson, corresponding secretary; LaSheryl Stokes, financial secretary; Patricia Harris, historian; Twana Ballard, program director; Stacy Clark, editor; Janice Bryan, Advisor.

2002 National Jack & Jill of America Inc. Convention in Los Angeles, California

Umoja for the Children was granted official chapter status as the Loudoun County Virginia Chapter (LCVC).

Charter members of Loundoun County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. 

Twana Ballard, Lynn Belcher, Lisa Bostic, Staci Bostic-Clark, Sharon Brower, Janice Bryan, Carol Bryant, Linda Coleman, Yvette Collins, Diane Conroe, Charlene Cook, Arlene Donnelly, Elayne Gomes-Battle, Alisha Hall, Lena Hickman-Miott, Angela Coates-Ivey, Wendy Bonds-Janowski, Kimberly Jenkins, Jennifer Jones, Wendy Levy, Harriet Miller, Daphne Mustafa, Denise Pulliam, Sherri Robinson, Tamara Russell, Gloria Salter, Paula Smith-Adams, Belinda Smith-Martin, Harvetta Spann, LaSheryl Stokes, Tamu Tatum, Clarine Vaughn, Jacqueline Williams. 

August 25, 2002

Installation took place at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia.

Loudoun County Virginia Chapter of Jack & Jill Fathers’ Auxiliary attended the installation during a special portion of the ceremony and signed the New Member Initiation Ceremony for Fathers, the first Fathers’ Auxiliary to do so in the Eastern Region.

Past Presidents of Loudoun County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

·         Lena Hickman-Miott, 2001-2003

·         Jacqueline Williams, 2003-2005

·         Harvetta Spann, 2005-2007

·         Clarine Vaughn, 2007-2009

·         Danielle Brown, 2009-2011