A Legacy of Service

Nneka L. Jones was raised as an only child on the South Side of Chicago by her mother. From a young age, her mother taught her the importance of public service and exposed her to the many ways that service could be embodied in her community. 

When reflecting on how far she has come, Nneka credits the person she is today for watching her mother’s impact in the social services industry, further inspiring Nneka’s desire for a mission-driven career. “Watching [my mom] impact various communities, live a life of service, and consistently serve as a resource for everyone she comes in contact with inspires me to also have a passion for service and be someone in the community that people can trust,” said Jones. With this value in mind, Nneka’s track record of service began at a young age as she immersed herself in numerous community-focused activities in high school and college.

In 2022, Nneka received her Bachelor of Arts in political science with a focus on leadership development from Agnes Scott College. Nneka decided to pursue political science because she noticed the impact of politics and legislation on the educational experience of youth in Chicago very early on. “When I went to Agnes Scott, I had the first year to explore a little bit of everything. I know that my lived experience with educational inequality in Chicago is what encouraged me to pursue a course of study that would help me better understand why our communities are shaped or exist the way they do. When I realized that educational equity and civil rights were heavily impacted by political decisions and legislative changes, I realized the study of political science could help me understand the history of politics and its impact on our daily lives,” said Jones. This realization was Nneka's inspiration to pursue a law degree, which she is now only one semester away from completing.

While pursuing higher education, Nneka was motivated by her family and neighborhood. “I always knew and was always encouraged to know that education would be [how] my trajectory was charted. Also, coming from the South Side of Chicago, I grew up around many who did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education. The encouragement from my mom, mentors, and the reality of the neighborhood in which I grew up let me know this was a necessary pursuit for me to fight injustice, advocate for educational equity, defend civil rights, and explore the realm of government affairs and relations. I ultimately knew that I would have to have a higher education to even be in those rooms,” said Jones.

Throughout Nneka’s journey, she learned how to be confident in professional and political spaces due to the support from her mentor, Ms. LySandra Barnett. “She’s been with me since my sophomore year in high school. She was so instrumental because she inspired me to go beyond what I could see in my community. When I think back to who I was my sophomore year in high school, I think she saw the leader in me before I could see it in myself. That’s the gold in mentorship relationships – mentors always see you a little farther than where you may feel you are or know that you could even be,” said Jones.

Nneka also mentioned how Ms. Barnett helped her make her college decision and taught her how to effectively network by example. “She is the living book on how to effectively network and not just when you need something which is a lost art. She focuses on how to maintain relationships and has taught me how to be a connector of people. Ms. Barnett has been a woman of integrity, a woman who stands for what she believes in, and somebody who taught me how to represent myself. She also exemplified how to walk into rooms and know that I belong there, and I deserve to be there just as well as any other person in the room,” said Jones.

Not only has Nneka’s journey been uplifted by encouragement from her family and mentors, but also Pursue Scholars. “I went to college in Georgia, and what I appreciated most were my campus visits. I appreciated that because it gave me a sense of home already being far removed by distance. It was a reminder, and every time April came to Georgia we would talk about career opportunities, scholarships, and charting my next path,” said Jones. Although April is no longer a staff member at Pursue Scholars, she and Nneka are still connected to this day. She also mentioned how she appreciated receiving care packages during the semester and creating lasting friendships within the Pursue community.

While Nneka reflects on her educational experience, she recognizes the impact and community that her time at Creighton Law has afforded her while also helping to inform her next career decision. “Since I’ve been in law school, I have had the chance to intern at various places that have shaped my view on the career I desire to have, most recently including the 2024 Democratic National Convention. This particular experience allowed me to see political engagement from a new lens, understand how we mobilize people behind a common goal, and how we chart the path for continued success for generations to come.  My law school experience has also allowed me to figure out how I want to practice law and the qualities that I will embody during my career,” said Jones. With these opportunities, Nneka is excited to begin her legal career after she graduates this May and looks forward to utilizing her experiences to develop a career at the intersection of litigation, lobbying, and government relations. 

As Nneka prepares to study for the bar exam this summer—the final step toward becoming an attorney and joining the 2% of African American women in the profession—she also reflects on the legacy she hopes to leave, not only at her institution but throughout her life. “One of the legacies that I’d like to leave would inspire and encourage women at the intersection of ministry and government, which is very close to my heart. Outside of my career ambitions, I know that I am called to young women who are interested in the political space, helping them find their identity and manage the weight and the calling of both mountains. I want to be remembered as someone who helped others become confident at the intersection of their calling,” said Jones. Through her pursuit of this legacy, Nneka looks forward to inspiring others to walk in their God-given purpose and achieve the mission they have been deployed on earth to accomplish.

Stories like Nneka's are the reason we are grateful for partners like you. Your gift to Pursue Scholars today will be actively investing in young Chicago leaders and helping them embark on a journey that will truly lead to change.