EDUCATOR|POET|COMMUNITY ORGANIZER|
"Be Ready Every Amazing Thing Happens Eventually. In other words, BREATHE."
EDUCATOR
​JAKEEL R. HARRIS IS A HIGHER EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE SERVING IN LEADERSHIP ROLES WITHIN DIFFERENT STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENTS AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CSU, UC, AND CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS.
Put Jakeel's experience to work for you. In his higher education practice, Jakeel places a heavy emphasis on providing equity-based programming, promoting leadership development, and encouraging intentional co-curricular involvement.​
Jakeel serves as the Assistant Director of the Black Resource Center at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB)
Through his non-profit, Project SPEAKS, Inc., Jakeel offers a variety of educational consulting services including:
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Keynote Speeches and Presentations
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Featured Poetry Performances
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Workshop Facilitation
​Workshop Topics Include: ​
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Social Justice Matters
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Race and Identity: Discovery through self-awareness
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Access, Class, and Mobility: Started from the bottom, and I am still here
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Self-Reflective Journaling
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Building the Leader in You
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Housing 101: Surviving and Thriving in Campus Housing
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Professional Development Made Easy
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Enhancing Team Dynamics
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Self-Advocacy and Building Boundaries
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Dealing with Conflict and Mediation: Why U Mad Though?
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Navigating the Black Experience in College
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Healing Through Your Narrative
WRITER, AUTHOR, PERFORMER
Jakeel performs and writes spoken word poetry under the pseudonym SPEAKS, using personal narratives to discuss and address topics of race, identity, trauma and mental health. Harris uses his life experiences as a platform to spark dialogue and promote vulnerability. SPEAKS is an acronym for Spreads Positivity Encourage Awareness Know Something, which is also the non-profit organization and movement he has founded.
He has performed his poetry at various venues ranging from academic institutions to weddings to open mics. He recently performed at Allan Hancock College, California State University, Long Beach, and MiraCosta Community College.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
Jakeel is the Founder and CEO of Project SPEAKS, Inc., through which he engages in community activism with a strong emphasis on community restoration and providing equitable resources to disadvantaged and marginalized populations.
As Founder and CEO of Project SPEAKS, Inc. (501c3), Harris uses his platform to portray and promote Blackness in a positive manner. He encourages all people, especially those who come from Black, Indigenous, or African ancestry, to connect to their cultural roots, embrace their identity, and build pride in who they are.​
Tell Me About It with Jakeel is a podcast that seeks to provide insight into the various educational experiences of students of color. The podcast highlights the work and experiences of educators of color, placing specific emphasis on those from Black backgrounds. The podcast seeks to connect to listeners and expose them to the various issues that people of color face while attending, working, and existing within higher education systems.
​Project SPEAKS, Inc. (Spread Positivity Encourage Awareness Know Something), is a (501c3) California-based non-profit organization, volunteer group, and movement created to promote unity, self-awareness, and positivity. ​
Founded in 2012, Project SPEAKS' goal is to provide academic and non-academic resources to developing communities, while promoting community education, social awareness, and personal growth.