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Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins  

Educator, Writer, Activist & First Woman of Color Elected President of the League of Women Voters

Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins is an internationally respected educator, author and speaker whose decades of work are grounded in civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, African-American history and racial equity. Her career in public and higher education spans 50 years.

Since 1998, Dr. Jefferson-Jenkins has worked with the U.S. Department of State Speakers and Specialist Program engaging with audiences on topics related to the democratic process and elections, women’s empowerment and women’s history, the legacy of enslavement and African American history, and the impact of policies and laws for people of color for nations around the world.

She was the first woman of color to hold the position of President of the League of Women Voters of the United States where she spearheaded, “The Future Plan” focusing the League’s work on campaign finance reform health care reform, education reform, as well as empowering women of color to run for elected office.

Dr. Jefferson-Jenkins is the author of "One Man, One Vote: The History of the African American Vote in the United States" as well as, "The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters," honoring the contributions of women of color in the suffrage movement and its legacy organization which received the 2020 INDIES Bronze Award in Women’s Studies.

She has been recognized in Notable Black American Women; Who’s Who Among Successful African-Americans, and Who’s Who in American Education. She is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award in Civic Leadership from Cleveland State University, the Making a Difference Award from John Carroll University and the National Coalition of Black Civic Achievement Civic Leadership Award. In 2020, Dr. Jefferson-Jenkins received the Trailblazer Award from the League of Women Voters of Ohio, and the Freedom Summer ’64 award from Miami University, Ohio for her lifetime of civil rights activism.

Speech Topics

"I Dare You to Be the Dream!"

After decades of advocacy, activism, progress, and setbacks, the need to advance social change should and does remain at the forefront of our national conversation in politics, economics, and education. We must find a way to embrace and empower a diverse group of people, ideas, and experiences every day in our journey to become a more inclusive nation. By intentionally challenging ourselves to be both dreamers and doers, we honor the legacy of those who dared to dream throughout history and provide the impetus for those who dare to dream for the future. Passion, purpose, and perseverance bring power. That power is needed now more than ever as the events of or present shape the future.

Show Up! Stand Up! Speak Up! This is Our Time

In this current environment of book banning and censorship, the stories of the trailblazers and history makers of the civil rights movement and the women's movement help us all to understand and advance civil and human rights in this country and in the world. The capacity to tell stories is what keeps history alive. Women of color should not have to negotiate their existence or be edited out of existence. This controversial topic is one that speaks to the very essence of who and how we recount history as a foundation for the future. It is inevitably uncomfortable for many, but there are times- NOW- that we must sit in our discomfort in order to make progress.

Decision Day 2024- A Vision of Better Things

The elections that take place in 2024 will be historic. This is not just hyperbole. While we may not agree on what makes it historic, we can agree that the circumstances surrounding it certainly factor into its importance. The impact of polarization, misinformation/disinformation, social, racial, and ideological unrest, conversations about election integrity, and new ways of voting are just a few of the areas that we must address if we are to maintain a healthy democracy. The implications for the future, both individually, as citizens, and collectively, as a nation, require us to rethink the foundational values "we the people" supposedly hold dear. How do we have the necessary conversations? Do we really care? Who should be included? How do we navigate disagreements to come to a consensus? Should we come to a consensus? What happens if we don't? Our future depends on what we do today. Our legacy is in the balance.

Out of the Shadows: Black Women Asserting Power and Authority in the United States

How did we get here? Not to this location, but to this place and time in the history of our democratic society where we are questioning its voracity and ability to survive? Black women have been, and continue to be, the backbone of a healthy democracy. The power of their influence is evident in the last few state and national elections. They are power players whose collective efforts make and change policy. They persistently come "out of the shadows" of a legacy of race and gender subjugation and assert their power and authority through grassroots organizing, running and winning elected offices, and thriving in appointed positions. They do not represent one voice. They are no monolithic group. They are the change-makers.

What's Color Got to Do with It? A Legacy of Labels and Leadership

While the title is grammatically incorrect, it is in the popular lexicon to make the point that needs to be made. In the history of the United States, color has everything to do with it. It should not be about how you look or the labels that are assigned to you in a particular social construct. Daring to lead as a woman of color is hard work, but it is worth it for you and for future generations. Progress is fragile and we must be vigilant lest we lose any gains made. Each of us can make a difference if we intentionally choose to. Unwritten, unspoken traditions, assumptions, and legislated actions all impact how we navigate the intersection of gender and race. From personal experience, I know that being the first and being the only can sometimes become overwhelming, but opening the door for others is its own reward.

Open Government and Civil Society

Addresses issues of activism and citizen participation focusing on the importance of election engagement to the health of democratic societies.

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Women in Politics and Government/Women's Equality Day

Focusing on the importance of women's voices in policymaking.

The Sate of Black Entrepreneurship in Rural NC 2023

Recognizing the importance of Black/female entrepreneurship to the health of rural and local economies. Themes are transferable to rural areas in any state.

Women's Empowerment: Leadership in Challenging Times

Focusing on the resilience of women of color who have overcome societal obstacles to make a change.

Black/African American History in the United States of America

Focus on the untold stories of the Black/African American contributors to U.S. History, giving voice to the ignored, erased or neglected parts of history.

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