Who is Carlos Dillard, Jr?

I am an inclusive leader committed to making a positive difference in the world.

I am the 2023-2024 Regional Teen President (RTP) for the Mid-Western Region of Jack and Jill of America. As the RTP, I lead, support, and advocate for more than 1,400 teen constituents across eight states. To unite our Region, I created #ConnectWithCarlos, a leadership and connection webinar series. #ConnectWithCarlos focuses on increasing the leadership skills, sense of inclusion, and connectivity for the teens in the Mid-Western Region. 

#ConnectWithCarlos is an hour-long interactive workshop where industry experts provide insights and advise teens. The workshop topics include Courageous Leadership, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, the Power of First Impressions, and the Power of Using Your Voice and Vote. The last 15 minutes of the workshop will encourage teens across the entire Region to connect, share, and highlight the positive things they're doing in the community.  

I am a leader who cares about issues impacting the youth and Black people.

I serve on the National Teen Board for Jack and Jill of America, where I focus on uniting seven regions and empowering the voices of more than 10,000 Jack and Jill teens across the nation. The teens of Jack and Jill of America are the world's future leaders. My work helps to illuminate our varied paths to leadership. I work to magnify our perspectives on important issues, celebrate our unique accomplishments, and eliminate the negative stereotypes assigned to the average Black teenager.  

I helped lead the teen efforts at the Jack and Jill biennial  On The Hill Summit held Sept. 22-25, 2023, in Washington, D.C. On The Hill was comprised of more than 600 Teens from 30+ states who met with their representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for five legislative issues: the prioritization of voter education and awareness, CROWN Act support, gun control and stricter gun laws, policing reform, and mental health awareness and education. 

I am a leader who wants to impact others positively.

From 2022-2023 I served as the Regional Teen Foundation Chair (RTFC) for the Mid-Western Region of Jack and Jill of America. As RTFC, I led the planning of our Teen Leadership Conference Community Impact Project where we partnered with Feed My Starving Children and packed and shipped over 101,000 meals to children facing food insecurities. Here's a snippet of my interview with Channel 10 WBNS News.

As RTFC, I encouraged teens to get involved in fundraising and community service work in their communities. They trusted me, and together, we made a difference. In fact, my chapter had 100% teen participation in the Double Good Popcorn fundraiser. I individually sold $20,000 worth of popcorn. That year, we were able to give over $12,000 worth of scholarships to deserving teens. As RTFC, I also served my local community for more than 450 hours. 

I am a leader who leads with empathy and kindness.

I planned events like Teens Helping Teens, a two-part series that helped teens build empathy and supported the fight to end teen homelessness. As part of the Teens Helping Teens series, the teens of Jack and Jill South Suburban Chicago and I stood in solidarity with our peers facing housing insecurities by sleeping on basement and gym floors.

To further increase our understanding of teen homelessness, I planned a private workshop facilitated by the State of Illinois Homelessness Chief - Christine Haley, Flossmoor Village Mayor Michelle Nelson, and Jack and Jill of America, Inc.’s National Program Director Marvis Donalson. Teens Helping Teens made an impact. We collected over $10,000 worth of toiletries and gift cards that were donated to three organizations that serve teens facing housing insecurities and sex trafficking in the south Chicagoland area - Aunt Martha’s, Reclaim13, and Respond Now.  

See the pictures and write-up from H-F Chronicle Newspaper.