Member Spotlight: Jordan Duckens

Jordan Duckens is a 22-year-old native of Sacramento, California. In May 2013, she graduated with honors from Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. She currently works for the California State Legislature in the Speaker’s Office. Jordan became a member of GSULYP in November 2013 and now serves as the Chair of Marketing for the Young Professionals. Jordan is active member of her church and has held several leadership positions within the youth organization.

What impact do you want to have on your community?

I want to help empower people professionally, economically, and politically. I have been exposed to a lot and I want to help others access resources and knowledge to make themselves and others in their community better. Feeling powerless is the worst feeling. I want others to realize the power they have to change themselves and their communities.

What brought you to YP?

I was born and raised in Sacramento. When I returned home after I graduated from college and realized I no longer had a social or professional network in Sacramento. In college, I was surrounded by intelligent, talented, ambitious, young, black men and women who were interested in social justice and making a real impact in the community. I joined YP to find that same community at home.

What do you enjoy about being a YP member?

I’ve only been a member for a few months but I really enjoy how dedicated and dynamic this group is. I like the fact that we do meaningful programs as well as social events where we can all have a good time.

What is your dream job (a fun one)?

I would love to be a wedding planner and run a wedding planning company someday. I have always been obsessed with weddings. They are such sacred, beautiful events. “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” used to be my favorite show. I adore David Tutera. I feel like it would be a challenging job that would allow me to combine logic/reasoning with my creativity while working with a variety of people.

What else can you tell us about yourself?

I love sports. I played volleyball and basketball up until college. I would really like to join an adult sports league because I miss playing a lot.  I’ve also recently become a big college basketball fan (Go Kansas!). I can’t wait to spend every weekend in March watching basketball all day.

I am also a PROUD alumna of Howard University. I love my HBCU!