Mae Helen Jackson is an 18-year-old on a mission to make a difference. An alum of Youth in Mission: Serving Christ in the World, a summer program of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Jackson felt called to do something about injustice. She started an Amnesty International Club at her high school, Kenwood Academy, Chicago. It’s affiliated with the worldwide human rights organization, Amnesty International. Jackson was the president of the club from its inception until her recent graduation.

Mae Helen Jackson will represent ELCA youth this summer at Lutheran World Federation conferences. A classmate, fellow Lutheran and club member Shubira Bocko, said, “I’ve known Mae Helen since the seventh grade and over that time I’ve noticed that she truly cares about people and is passionate about what she does.” Jackson’s zeal spread throughout the club, which Bocko said she joined because “together we can speak out for those in other parts of the world without a voice.”

Jackson also has been active in her congregation, St. Stephen Lutheran, Chicago, and has been named one of two ELCA Youth Liaisons to the Lutheran World Federation. She will travel to LWF conferences, representing ELCA youth.