Jamira Burley
Head of Youth Engagement, National Business Coalition for Education
"Recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change and a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree, Jamira Burley (USA) is the essence of perseverance. For over a decade, Jamira has made it her mission to employ her personal experiences as the driving force to improve the lives of others. From implementing anti-violence programs throughout Philadelphia – when she was just a high school student, to organizing youth trainings around the world – in collaboration with the United Nations. Jamira ardor for personal and social advancement is undeniable; she leads with marked expertise on youth engagement, education reform, global citizenship, gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform.
Coming from a family, where both of her parents and twelve of her thirteen brothers have been incarcerated, Jamira’s advocacy is very personal. As the first of 16 children to graduate from high school and pursue higher education, Jamira is a Temple University graduate. Having worked for over six years at the School District of Philadelphia, as a youth development coordinator, Jamira was recruited by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to lead the City of Philadelphia Youth Commission. As Executive Director for the Youth Commission, she represented the interests of over 600,000 Philadelphia youths and worked in the intersection of youth engagement and policy.
Currently, Jamira is the Head of Youth Engagement and Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education, helping to ensure a collaborative relationship between youth and business leaders; to enable innovative ways to educate, engage and activate young people around the world. Prior to the Global Business Coalition for Education, Jamira worked as the National Deputy Millennial Vote Director at Hillary For America and before that, she managed the gun violence and criminal justice portfolios at Amnesty International USA—one of the first and largest human rights organizations in the world. Overseeing collaboration with partners and Amnesty’s national and international membership base, Jamira developed and implemented human rights driven campaigns. Currently, Jamira consults with a number of public and private entities on how to authentically engage impacted communities. Working at the intersection of policy, community and social good, Jamira provides unique insight that will help actualize the change we all so desperately need.
As a result of Jamira’s unwavering commitment to social change, she has received two governor appointments by Governor Ed Randall and Governor Tom Wolf, as well as two Mayoral appointments by Mayor Michael Nutter and Mayor Muriel Bowser to both city and state commissions. Always looking to serve the communities she lives and works in, Jamira was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Kim-moon, to United Nations Global Education First Initiative; Youth Advocacy Group. For the last three years, she has traveled to over 20 countries advocating for the rights of every child to have access to quality education."
For over a decade, Jamira has made it her mission to employ her personal experiences as the driving force to improve the lives of others. From implementing anti-violence programs throughout Philadelphia, to organizing youth trainings around the world – in collaboration with the United Nations.
Always looking to serve the communities she lives and works in, Jamira was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Kim-moon, to United Nations Global Education First Initiative; Youth Advocacy Group. Currently, Jamira is the Head of Youth Engagement and Skills for the Global Business Coalition for Education.