Rooted in Legacy. Building for Generations.
JMC Legacy Foundation was created to honor what was planted before us — and to extend that legacy into the generations that follow.
Building on Legacy. Investing in the Future.
JMC Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization rooted in generational healing, mentorship, emotional wellness, and community support. We create spaces where youth and families can grow, heal, and thrive.
We believe that what is planted in one generation can transform the generations that follow. By creating opportunities, strengthening connections, and providing practical resources and support, we help youth and families build strong foundations for today — and lasting legacies for tomorrow.
Our mission, vision, and purpose guide how we serve today and what we are building for generations to come.
Our Mission
JMC Legacy Foundation empowers youth and families through mentorship, mental health awareness, educational opportunities, and wellness-centered community support — continuing a generational legacy of strength, courage, and resilience.
Our Vision
A world where youth and families are empowered to heal, grow, and thrive — creating stronger communities and brighter futures for generations to come.
Our Purpose
Our core purpose is to honor generational legacy by empowering youth and families with the healing, support, and tools they need to build strong foundations and thrive within their communities.
Rooted in Legacy. Building for Generations.
Long before JMC Legacy Foundation had a name, its roots were being planted through the lives of Johnnie and Margarette — two remarkable women whose strength, courage, resilience, and determination helped shape our family for generations.
Beginning in the 1970s, both women were entrepreneurs in South Central Los Angeles. At a time when opportunities for Black women in business were limited, they built, created, persevered, and invested in the community around them.
Johnnie, my maternal grandmother, owned and operated a Kodak photo booth, where members of the community brought their camera film to be sent out for developing and processing.
Margarette, my paternal grandmother, was a serial entrepreneur. From the 1970s through the 1980s and 1990s, she owned several businesses within our community, including a bakery, thrift store, and hamburger stand. Later in life, she opened her home to two boys with significant disabilities and devoted herself to their care.
As I grew older, I began to recognize how deeply their example had shaped my own path. I became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an entrepreneur, eventually becoming the owner and operator of Bittersweet Encounters, a community-based behavioral health organization dedicated to serving individuals, youth, families, and communities.
JMC Legacy Foundation was created to honor what they planted while extending that legacy into the generations that follow. Through mentorship, education, emotional wellness, leadership development, and community support, we invest in youth and families so they have opportunities to heal, grow, thrive, and build legacies of their own.
"Their legacy became part of mine. Through JMC, we are helping the next generation build theirs."
— Chermel, Founder
The values that guide how we serve, lead, and invest in the next generation.
Leadership
We cultivate leadership by empowering youth and families to rise confidently, make informed decisions, and create meaningful impact in their lives and communities.
Empowerment
We equip individuals with tools, support, and opportunities that foster self-confidence, resilience, and the ability to shape their own futures.
Growth
We promote lifelong learning, emotional wellness, and personal development.
Advocacy
We amplify the voices of youth and families and champion equitable access to resources, opportunity, and support.
Community
We believe in the collective strength of community and the power of collaboration.
Youth-Centered
We prioritize the well-being, safety, and success of youth in every decision, program, and initiative.
Creating Opportunity. Strengthening Generations.
Across communities, many youth and families face barriers that impact emotional wellness, educational achievement, economic opportunity, and overall stability. Families often struggle to access supportive resources that promote resilience, strengthen relationships, and create pathways toward long-term success.
JMC Legacy Foundation was established to address these challenges through mentorship, mental health awareness, educational opportunities, leadership development, and community support initiatives. By investing in youth, strengthening families, and creating opportunities for healing and growth, JMC seeks to build healthier communities and brighter futures.
Our work is grounded in the belief that lasting change begins with strong relationships, supportive communities, and access to meaningful opportunities.
Strong women strengthen families.
Strong families strengthen communities.
Strong communities create opportunities for future generations.
Help Us Build What Comes Next.
Every act of support helps JMC Legacy Foundation create opportunities for youth and families to heal, grow, learn, and thrive.