More Than 3,000 Mothers, Advocates and Leaders Gather at Jeremiah Program Summit on Economic Mobility

More Than 3,000 Mothers, Advocates and Leaders Gather at Jeremiah Program Summit on Economic Mobility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Aretha McKinney
314.458.2095
aretha@whitpr.com

BOSTON, MA — March 11, 2026 — More than 3,000 mothers, advocates and community leaders gathered in person and virtually for the 2026 Jeremiah Program (JP) Summit Weekend, a national convening focused on advancing economic mobility for single mothers and their families.

The summit brought together Jeremiah Program moms, alumni, policymakers and national leaders for discussions on leadership, entrepreneurship and the policies shaping opportunity for families nationwide. Nearly 1 in 4 children in the United States is raised by a single mother, and single mothers head 80% of single-parent households, underscoring the need for policies and programs that support long-term economic mobility.

Through its two-generation model, Jeremiah Program invests in both mothers and their children by combining postsecondary education, career-track support, stable housing and early childhood education. In 2025, the organization engaged more than 2,200 mothers and children nationwide while delivering more than 10,000 coaching sessions to support college completion and career advancement. Among alumni, 80% are employed full time with a median income of $55,000, reflecting the long-term economic impact of the organization’s approach.

“There are strong policy ideas and community-led solutions already happening across the country,” said Chastity Lord, President and CEO of Jeremiah Program. “The JP Summit is about bringing those voices together and amplifying the leadership of single mothers in the conversations shaping economic mobility and opportunity. When women win, single mothers win, and when single mothers win, our communities win.”

Featured speakers included Joy Thomas Moore, Peabody Award–winning producer and mother of Maryland Governor Wes Moore; Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, founder of The Village Market and author of No One Is Self-Made; Cierra Campbell Bridges, Ph.D., who led a session on economic mobility and higher education; Aja Gaddie, who discussed the barriers preventing women from running for office; and Lori Ryan, who hosted a session focused on making artificial intelligence approachable and practical for mothers and families.

A highlight of the weekend was JP Spark Tank, Jeremiah Program’s “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition, where mothers in the program presented business ideas to a panel of judges. Three finalists received funding to advance their ventures:

  • Jacqueline Kyle, Rochester, Minnesota – First place, $10,000
  • Ashley DuBose, Minneapolis, Minnesota – Second place, $7,500
  • Mariela Regalado, Brooklyn, New York – Third place, $5,000

The competition showcased mission-driven ventures addressing community needs, from trauma-informed wellness programs and inclusive education technology to affordable housing development and culturally rooted wellness brands. Current JP mom Jacqueline Kyle and JP alum Mariela Regalado were also recognized by both virtual and in-person attendees, each receiving an additional $2,500 Inspiration Award.

Throughout the summit, participants engaged in leadership development sessions, networking opportunities, community-building activities, and civic-engagement activations that reflect Jeremiah Program’s two-generation approach – pairing postsecondary education, career-track support, safe housing, and quality early childhood education to support long-term family stability while reinforcing the shared power of a nationwide, mobilized community of moms advocating for single-mother families and shaping communities.

To learn more about Jeremiah Program, visit jeremiahprogram.org.

About Jeremiah Program: Jeremiah Program (JP) is a national organization whose mission is to disrupt the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time. By investing simultaneously in a mother’s vision for her personal and professional goals and the education of her children, she simultaneously reauthors her family’s outcome as well her community’s — proof points matter. In 2025, JP actively served over 2,000 moms and children across nine cities in Austin, TX; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Fargo, ND-Moorhead, MN; Las Vegas, NV; Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, MN; and St. Paul, MN.