Emmanuel Jenkins
Emmanuel, Sharliena and Kailyin.
Emmanuel Jenkins is currently employed as an Administrative Specialist for the State of Delaware. He is the founder of We Stand 4 Something, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help people who have disabilities pursue their goals, whatever those goals might be. Emmanuel’s viewpoint is that people who have disabilities should live without limits and that “If you put your heart, mind and soul into the situation, you can do anything you want”.
Emmanuel Jenkins is a 2014 graduate of Partners in Policymaking. He serves at the pleasure of Governor Markell on the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC), the State Council for People with Disabilities (SCPD) and the Employment First Oversight Commission.
Emmanuel is a motivational speaker where he provides workshops for many different organizations. He is also a certified trainer, teaching people with disabilities to recognize, report and respond to abuse.
Emmanuel was born with a disability, cerebral palsy and he uses a wheelchair. He is a self-motivator and does not let anything or anyone get in his way. He stands out in a crowd not because of his wheelchair, but because of what he has accomplished in spite of his disability.
He attended Seaford Senior high school and received his diploma in DE general studies, graduating May 24, 2004. In May of 2005, he began working at the Wal-Mart in Seaford, DE and worked for years as a sales associate in the electronics department.
Emmanuel has devoted much of his time to helping people. At the age of 11, he began volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club, working with children. His responsibility was to maintain the computer lab and he ran a program called “Peek into the Future”, which taught students how to set and attain life goals. As a junior staff member, he assisted with a program called Family Day and tutored children in math. The key is that he has a "can do" attitude and he let his students know that they are winners and that winners never stop trying. Emmanuel volunteered over 1500 hours, demonstrating the principles of a positive and determined mind. He devoted his time to being a mentor and positive role model for the many students with whom he worked.
Some of the awards Emmanuel has received include; 2004 - All-Star Youth Winner, 2004 - Western Sussex Boys and Girls Club Youth of the year; 2004 – Governor Ruth Anne Minner Volunteer Service Award; 2004 – 2007 AmeriCorps Volunteer and 2007 - President Volunteer Service Award, National Disabilities Inclusion and National Service Conference.
Emmanuel’s interests include computers, video games, talking to and motivating people. He enjoys travel, being with family and laughing. Emmanuel lives in Harrington Delaware. On May 16, 2009, he married his beautiful wife Sharliena and they have a son named Kailyin and a dog named Cola.