St. Louis, Missouri | November 4, 2026 – YWCA Metro St. Louis is proud to announce Legacy Jackson, a senior at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School, as the 2026 Future Leader honoree. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants across the region, Legacy will be recognized at Leader Lunch 46 on Thursday, December 3, at The Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza, where she will also receive a $1,500 scholarship in support of her educational goals.
Legacy has been serving her community for ten years. At age seven, she founded Little Legacies, a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of “Kids, Service & Fun,” bringing young people together each month to support children and families experiencing homelessness. A 13-year Girl Scout and Gold Award recipient, she also serves on the Girl Scouts of the USA Advisory Board and the St. Louis County Government Council 1 Youth Advisory Board.
Her application made the case that young women need opportunities to lead today, not someday. “We are not just the leaders of tomorrow; we are the change makers of today,” Legacy wrote. After being crowned Ms. Black USA Talented Teen in August, she is building the Legacy Jackson Leadership Academy, a 12-month program where girls identify issues in their schools and communities and lead the projects that address them. Her vision and decade of service made a powerful impression on the selection committee.
Legacy is also an emerging journalist who hosted the youth POV segment on iHeartMedia and, at age 14, became the youngest person in Missouri to deliver a TEDx Talk. She will graduate from high school and from St. Louis Community College with her associate degree in May 2027, then plans to attend an HBCU to study broadcast journalism and become a news anchor who does more than report the news.
“We are thrilled to honor Legacy as this year’s Future Leader,” said Dr. Cheryl Watkins-Knott, MBA, President and CEO of YWCA Metro St. Louis. “She has spent ten years proving that young people are partners in building a stronger community, and she is already creating the opportunities she wants other girls to have.”
Join more than 800 area professionals at Leader Lunch 46 to celebrate Legacy and this year’s Leaders of Distinction. Doors open at 10:00AM for the Holiday Bazaar, featuring women-owned businesses, with lunch and the program running from 11:30AM to 1:30PM. Individual tickets and tables are on sale now at ywcastl.org/LL46. All proceeds support YWCA Metro St. Louis, which provides its services free of charge to more than 10,000 individuals and their families each year.
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YWCA Metro St. Louis is a leading provider of services that promote safety, stability, and opportunity across the region, serving more than 10,000 individuals and families each year. YWCA Metro St. Louis is dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and survivors by facilitating a future where every person is safe, supported, and heard. Programs include crisis response and housing, early childhood education through Head Start and Early Head Start, and career readiness and supportive services for individuals and families.