“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” said Gramblinite Jalissa Amber Meredith, Miss Black Illinois USA 2011.
Meredith is grateful for the opportunity to serve. “It has been amazing. I am so blessed to have this opportunity and thankful that the committee for the Miss Black USA organization would choose me.
“Grambling State University has done so much for me from working with the Grambling Sports Radio Network for four years and traveling abroad to Costa Rica,”said Meredith.
Various speaking events and also looking forward to being able to speak to young woman all over America about the importance of education and achieving dreams remain important to Meredith.
Her interest in the pageant came while completing her last year at Grambling. She saw signs advertised around campus so she decided to investigate.
Her platform is “Touch the Sky,” which is a program that will give help and encourage children.
It will focus on children regardless of race, religion or sexual preference to achieve their goals, academic accomplishments and dreams.
Meredith will host and attend seminars that are focused around mentoring all young women.
She intends to help them become more marketable, enhance their speaking techniques and become more academically strong.
Meredith will also be starting her tenure at Roosevelt University located in Chicago, Illinois where she will be achieving her Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.
She will work with adoption agencies and foster care centers.
Being adopted, she thinks it is very important for families who are interested in having children to gain more information and help change the life of a child.
“I want young women to know there is opportunity at Grambling State University and it is OK to step outside of their element and venture out.
“Have a voice, and know that you must keep your head held high.”
She advises them to utilize the tools that are given. Also give back in volunteerism and leave your mark in everything you do.
Meredith extended words of thanks first and foremost God for all of her blessings, her family for supporting her in everything she does, Santoria Black and all of the Grambling Sports Radio network, and professors at Grambling for giving her the opportunity to travel and having a huge impact on her life.
All contributed to helping her to become a powerful, educated, business savvy academically driven woman.
She would also like to thank the Miss Black USA organization for having faith in her and allowing her to reachout to young girls and being a role model to all young women and giving her this opportunity to share the knowledge she will gain as Miss Black Illinois USA 2011.
She reminds the community that ” … there is light at the end of the tunnel.