2024 Fellow Focus: Jordan Hankins + Southern Nevada Black Educators Initiative
Resilient leader, organizer, change agent for Education… 2024 Fellow Jordan Hankins of Southern Nevada Black Educators Initiative shares more about her journey as a social impact entrepreneur.
What life experiences propelled you into the entrepreneurial space and made you decide to be your own boss?
My personal journey through the Clark County School District - one of the nation's largest and most diverse districts - is a testament to my resilience and determination. Growing up in a district ranked 49th out of 50 metropolitan areas in metrics such as classroom size, teacher shortages, and funding, I experienced the stark realities of the school-to-prison pipeline that ensnares so many. I attended under-resourced Title 1 schools, where I encountered harsh disciplinary measures, demoralizing learning environments, and overcrowded classrooms. Throughout my K-12 education, I never had a Black teacher and received little to no social or academic support from my instructors.
My pivotal moment came in the 10th grade when I crossed paths with Mr. Johansen, a compassionate school counselor who recognized my potential and became my mentor. His office served as a safe haven for Black students, and he played a vital role in preventing me from dropping out of school. Instead, he encouraged me, helped me recover lost course credits, and empowered me to complete high school successfully.
Despite these early challenges, my determination led me to enroll in a local community college, where I faced the academic rigors of college life, including remedial courses. However, I viewed this as a second chance to develop my learning skills and thrive as a student. My undergraduate journey was marked by resilience, commitment, and leadership, both in and outside the classroom.
Graduating from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, I concentrated my studies on political theory, public law, and public policy. My senior research project, "Remaining Separate and Unequal," shed light on the factors funneling students of color into the school-to-prison pipeline, including punitive discipline, overrepresentation in special education, racial achievement gaps, and discriminatory policies.
My post-graduation experiences working on democratic legislative campaigns coupled with my previous role as a political organizer with a local teachers union further deepened my commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice in education as I noticed an immediate need to support and expand Nevada's Black teacher pipeline. The culmination of these experiences led me to establish SNBEI, a transformative organization dedicated to empowering and supporting Black educators while advocating for a more equitable and inclusive educational system in Southern Nevada.
What do you enjoy most about being a founder?
What I enjoy most about being a founder is witnessing the blueprint that I designed for the Southern Nevada Black Educators Initiative come to life, as well as having the opportunity to be responsible for a movement that Nevada has not seen yet.
What do you wish someone had told you before you started your entrepreneurial journey?
I wish that I would have been taught that it's okay to delegate tasks and that it's okay to say "No."
Tell us about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
SNBEI was born out of a capstone project for my Master's program in 2020. I was tasked with partnering with a local non-profit organization to design a contemporary solution to an urban issue. As soon as I was given the instructions for the assignment, I immediately knew that I would develop my own organization and design key initiatives to address the Black teacher shortage in Clark County. I was the only student in my cohort to take this approach to the capstone project. I carefully designed each program and initiative, program measurements, impact and outcomes. I knew that this was more than a class project, but a passion project that I would take on full time at some point. I had a strong sense of Belief in Mission and Vision.
Let's talk about your legacy. What is your vision for the kind of world you hope to create through your venture?
Through my initiative, I aspire to establish a realm that provides students of color with representation and opportunities. I envision a world abundant with culturally attuned, highly skilled Black educators passionately advocating for their students.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
The Lost Education of Horace Tate by Dr. Vanessa Siddle Walker truly inspired me to shape the mission and vision of SNBEI.
We know balancing the demands of entrepreneurship and life can be challenging. What are some of your favorite ways to prioritize your self-care?
Some of my favorite ways to prioritize my self-care is spending time with family, going to the gym and getting much needed rest.
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