On the Record

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DeKALB – When Jordyn Jackson grows up, he wants to be a video game designer.

But instead of staying indoors all day playing video games, Jackson is out and about in the community, getting involved and making a difference.

Jackson started volunteering in the community when he was 6 years old. Now 14, Jackson volunteers with more than 30 organizations, including Trash Squirrels and DeKalb County Community Gardens. Jackson is a homeschooled eighth-grader.

Jackson started JOY – Jackson’s Outstanding Young Volunteers, a group that organizes volunteering events and inspires children to get involved in the community.

Jackson has already inspired 12 other children to join JOY Volunteers. To get the word out about the group, he had his own booth at the DeKalb Public Library’s Volunteer Fair on March 26.

He also was a guest speaker at a Youth Engaged in Philanthropy meeting. YEP is a youth-led committee of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Jackson told the other teens about JOY Volunteers and gave advice about volunteer opportunities in the community.

Angela Johnson, Jackson’s mom, said she is proud of her son for his love of volunteering.

“For other kids, it’s hard to get them to volunteer,” Johnson said. “But he loves helping others. He’s a young community leader, but that doesn’t stop him from being a kid. He’s very creative and likes to spend his time playing video games, but not all of his time. He also loves to draw and draws every day.”

Johnson said other parents and adults in the community have noticed her son’s volunteerism.

“So many people have told us of his impact and how he’s making a change,” Johnson said. “I’m just happy he likes to help others and give back and isn’t a selfish person. I’m proud he has that kind of heart.”

Jackson spoke with MidWeek reporter Katrina Milton about JOY Volunteers and why volunteering in the community is important.

Photo provided by Angela Johnson Jordyn Jackson, 14, started JOY – Jackson’s Outstanding Young Volunteers, a group that organizes volunteering events and inspires children to get involved in the community.

Milton: Why did you start JOY Volunteers?

Jackson: JOY Volunteers is a group I started to get younger kids involved with volunteering. It’s for kids ages kindergarten through middle school. I wanted to get young kids involved to inspire them.

Milton: Why is volunteering important for kids?

Jackson: I think there are not as many opportunities for kids to volunteer. It’s more difficult for them to be involved. I want kids to be involved, too, and for all kids to make a difference. I think things wouldn’t get done without volunteers. There needs to be

See ON THE RECORD, page 5

MUSIC

niu.edu/music

April 26 All-University Jazz Band, 7 p.m. April 28 Chamber Choir and University Chorus, 7 p.m. April 29 Pendulum Percussion Duo, 4 p.m. April 29 Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m. April 30 NIU Banda Concert, 7 p.m. May 1 Electronic Computer Music Concert, TBA May 1 NIU Philharmonic Orchestra “Tribute to Jan Bach”, 7 p.m. May 5 NIU Brass Chamber Music, 8 p.m. May 8 Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Campus Strings, 7:30 p.m. May 15 Kishwaukee Concert Band, 3 p.m.

The Arts at NIU

THEATRE

niu.edu/theatre The Language Archive

by Julia Cho April 22-24 and 28-30 Sally Stevens Players Theatre

Spring Dance Concert “The Past to the Present”

April 28-May 1 O’Connell Theatre

ART

niu.edu/art

Biennial NIU School of Art and Design Faculty Exhibition

NIU Art Museum, Altgeld Hall Extended through May 14

niu.edu/artmuseum

BFA Show

Capstone exhibition showcase of students earning School of Music Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees Jack Olson Gallery, Jack Arends Hall April 25-May 11

A look at what’s coming up! For a full schedule of events and ticket information:

go.niu.edu/arts

volunteers to help with stuff, make an impact, and help people out. I like when people tell me about the impact I’ve made and how it’s inspired them.

Milton: When did you get involved in volunteering?

Jackson: I started volunteering at the age of 6. At a young age, I saw my mom and my sister volunteering, and they often brought me along. They inspired me to volunteer. I volunteer with Trash Squirrels and [DeKalb County Community Gardens] and over 30 organizations in the community.

Milton: What volunteering events would you like JOY Volunteers to get involved with?

Jackson: I hope we can paint rocks to leave around town, make cards, pick up garbage. I still haven’t decided all of the activities we’ll do yet, but I will soon. Right now, we have about 12 members. I started the group about a year ago, but because of COVID, it was difficult to have events.

Milton: Did you participate in any local events?

Jackson: I went to the volunteer fair, and I had a table there. It was fun getting to talk about my volunteer group and giving out information. I went to talk to YEP students, I was a guest speaker and told them about my organization.

Milton: Do you have any other projects in the works?

Jackson: I made my own book about volunteering, and it’s going to be coming out soon. It’s already finished, and I drew all the images myself. We just have to decide on the publisher. I would like to see more kids involved in volunteering. I hope that JOY Volunteers helps with that.

To find out more about JOY Volunteers and upcoming events, find the group on Facebook.

Sycamore St. Mary sets open house

SYCAMORE – St. Mary Catholic School, 222 Waterman St. in Sycamore, will hold an open house from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4.

Attendees can tour the school, visit classrooms and see education at St. Mary’s in person.

Tours of the school can be scheduled at other times.

For more information, contact Principal Patricia Strang at 815-895-5215 or pstrang@stmarysycamore.org.

Demmer, Keicher to host free job fair

SYCAMORE – Area residents looking for employment or interested in pursuing a new career path are invited to attend a free job fair hosted by state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, and state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 4, at Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 W. Bethany Road in Sycamore.

More than 40 area employers looking to hire for open positions available right now will be on hand to accept resumes, answer questions, and discuss career opportunities. Career professionals from Kishwaukee College will offer a workshop at 10 a.m. on job searching and tips for success. WorkNet Batavia will offer a workshop at 11 a.m. on “Making a Great Impression: Resume & Interviewing Tips!”

Attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of resumes.

Participating employers include: 3M, Able Hearts, Adecco Staffing, American NTN Bearing Manufacturing Corp., Becker Law Office, Compass Staffing Solutions, DeKalb County Clerk, DeKalb County Government, DeKalb County Rehab, Employment & Employer Services, FedEx Ground, Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, Glidden Florist, Illinois Central Management Services, Illinois Crafted Hospitality Group, Illinois Conservation Police, Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Illinois Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, Integrity Trade Services, International Paper, In the Swim/Leslie’s Pools, John B. Sanfillippo & Son, Kishwaukee College, Kishwaukee Family YMCA, Liberty Village Rochelle, Manpower, Maplehurst Farms, Meyers Motor Transportation Co., Mortenson, Northwestern Medicine, PACE, Peerless-AV, Peoplelink Staffing, Pipefitters Local Union 597, Realclean Aircraft Detailing, Rochelle Community Hospital, Rochelle Foods, Ron’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Spectrum Preferred Meats, Swenson Spreader, The Suter Co., UPS, Wehrli Custom Fabrication and WorkNet Batavia.

Demmer represents the 90th District which includes portions of Ogle, Lee, DeKalb and LaSalle counties. Keicher represents the 70th District which includes portions of DeKalb, Kane, and Boone counties.

– Shaw Local News Network

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