Maya Jack And Jill • Plus

At Maya Chapter, there are currently 45 active families. There is a waitlist of 120.

By A. Jordan Photography by Elena Mendez maya jack and jill

A 2022 study from the Journal of African American Studies found that children of Jack and Jill families report higher rates of anxiety and depression than their non-member Black peers, precisely because of the pressure to be “twice as good” without ever appearing to struggle. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 was a rupture for chapters like Maya. For the first time, the white neighbors and classmates of these Black families wanted to talk about race. Suddenly, the Jack and Jill mothers who had been fighting for diversity, equity, and inclusion committees for years were being asked to lead town halls. At Maya Chapter, there are currently 45 active families

She pauses, watching her daughter laugh with a boy who is also the only Black kid in the robotics club. Jordan Photography by Elena Mendez A 2022 study