Jacqueline (Jackie) Venters was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her family moved to California when she was an infant and raised her in Los Angeles. Jackie’s passion and caring for others, especially children, became evident at an early age; at age 12, she became the neighborhood baby-sitter. She enjoyed not only the responsibility of baby-sitting, but also playing the role of a loving older sister.
After graduating from high school in 1973, Jackie started working at Parker Center, in downtown Los Angeles. Soon thereafter, she married her childhood sweetheart, Gerald Venters. Gerald and Jackie have two children; a daughter Lyneice, and a son, Gerald Jr.
Gerald, Sr. passed away when the children were four and two years of age. As a widow and single parent, Jackie dedicated herself to being a “stay-at-home” mom. As a career move, she returned to her genuine love of caring for children in the form of a children’s day care center and becoming a licensed foster parent. Jackie attended classes at Compton Community College and earned an Associate of Science Degree in Child Development. Along with her degree, Jackie graduated with high honors and made the National Dean’s List. She opened her business in Compton, where she has resided continuously for the past 40 plus years. Many families in the community have benefited from Jackie’s day care service, many of them have children of their own, which Jackie has also taken care of.
Jackie spends an integral part of her life in service and volunteering; she attends and is involved with numerous community forums, and serves on committees, serves on boards and create programs relating to children and family issues.
Some of Jackie’s volunteer activities include: Inner City Child Development & Youth Foundation – Jackie’s non-profit organization, founded in 2001, which enables her to provide housing, food, many resources and services to children and their families. Jackie is a licensed Child Care provider,
Licensed Foster Parent, Early Childhood Educator, Mentor Specialist, for Volunteers of America, Counselor, Founder/Executive Director of ICCDYF, serving on the Women Commission for 64th District, Mother and Great Grandmother, Sister and Auntie.
Jackie’s passion is her people, she loves helping others. She is dedicated to serving her community. She has received several awards from, The City of Compton, our Assemblymen, Congresswoman, Democrat of the Year Award, Women of the Year Award
Our programs reach out to at risk children within the foster care system, group home, transitional housing, and many other groups.
These are some of the agencies that Jackie work close with throughout the years; Cross Connextion – A community based non-profit organization, which serves Compton Unified School District, Southern California Mentoring Academy – A mentoring program for youth, Refresh Youth Center – A non-profit organization which provides mentoring and tutoring programs to inner city youth Compton Parks and Recreation, Compton Veterans- they have a youth boot camp, that work with at risk youth. Several programs provided throughout the year, focusing on community and families, Camp Fire USA of Compton – Former President from 2008 through 2010; where Jackie organized camping trips, campfire grounds sleep-over’s, teen fashion shows, celebrated Campfire Girls of America’s 100 Year Anniversary, launched Compton Initiative where several buildings were painted and trees were trimmed to beautify the community, and instituted a summer food service program ,Dollar Hide Neighborhood Center – A senior citizen center providing various resources, Sheriff Youth Activities League – Los Angeles and Compton Boxing Centers; teaching sewing and cooking classes, providing backpacks and school supplies, snacks, toys and resources ,Champions for Caring – Providing food, clothing, housing, childcare and resources for Women’s Shelters throughout the City of Compton Charlotte’s Corner – Youth etiquette and modeling training, Miss Compton Pageant, Compton Unified School District, F.A.S.T., Mothers of Incarcerated Souls, Hopes and Dreams Foundation, City of Compton Parks and Recreation, 64th District Women Commissioner, Commissioner for Better Compton, Angels for Sight, New Building Stones, Academic Achievement Academy, Teen Intervention and Prevention, Compton Veterans, Angel’s for Sight, Transition to Greatness, Sylvia’s Nunn’s Angels, The Mission Continues, The Walker Foundation, One Section at a Time, Compton Second Chance Youth Academy, The Positive Results, Watts Finest, Stewards for Healthy Families, Volunteers of America, Shields for Families, Hopics, Autism Doesn’t Define Me and more.
Jackie’s continued commitment to her community over the past 40 plus years, has resulted in numerous certificates and awards celebrating her service throughout Compton and Los Angeles, recently being honored with the, Women of the Year 64th District and 2020 Democrat of the Year Award.