Milford Woman Receives Inaugural National Award

Jalyn Powell, Founder and CEO of OUTLOUD DE, and a 2014 graduate of Milford High School was recently recognized by President Joe Biden with the inaugural Rising Star Award. The award recognizes Powell’s work in creating safe spaces and mentorships for people in southern Delaware.

“I got a phone call from Sussex County Democratic Chair Loretta Benson and later received a call from Delaware Democratic Party Chair Evelyn Brady, confirming that I was receiving the award,” Powell said. “Honestly, I was shocked and deeply honored. It was one of those moments when you pause and reflect on how far the journey has come.”

Powell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Delaware State University, graduating with honors. She was also the recipient of the George Washington Leadership Award while attending DelState. She continued her education at Regent University earning a Master of Arts in Human Rights as well as a degree in Rule of Law from Regent University Law School. Powell is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Transformative Social Change at Saybrook University with a focus on the impact of trauma.

In addition to her degrees, Powell holds certifications in Leading Racial Equity and Inclusion from Northwestern University and Human Rights Education from the U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights. She began OUTLOUD DE, a youth-centered space where young people can grow, lead and feel supported.

“Through initiatives like Girl Code, Youth Next Door and Civil Engineers – Bridge to Wellness, we help equip youth with leadership skills, wellness tools and opportunities to create change in their communities,” Powell said. “At our core, we believe young people deserve spaces where they are not only included but empowered to lead.”

Powell stated that the biggest rewards in her career have been watching how a single moment of action can grow into lasting community impact.

“In 2020, in the middle of a global pandemic and a period of racial unrest across the country, we organized the Walk of Change in downtown Milford. Nearly 500 people came together peacefully to stand for unity, justice, healing and community dialogue,” Powell said. “That moment reminded me how powerful collective action can be and really marked the beginning of my journey.”

Rewarded when young people gain confidence, use their voice and advocate for themselves while prioritizing wellness and feeling that someone truly sees them, Powell gets more from those accomplishments than any title or recognition. Seeing communities come together and youth step into leadership roles reminds her why the work she does matters.

“Another major milestone has been launching the first Delaware Black History Tour, taking community members on a journey through Delaware history from Sussex County to Wilmington,” Powell said. “Seeing people reconnect with history, feel empowered, and become activated to get involved in their communities in real time was incredibly powerful. It reminded me that education storytelling and exposure can truly shift perspectives and inspire action.”

Another project that Powell is involved in is securing a partnership in South Africa that will allow youth to collaborate in real time with youth there on civic engagement and community impact projects. This will allow cross-cultural learning, global connections and shared leadership will expand how young people see themselves, use their voices and encourage them to create change beyond borders.

“Recently, we took a group of youth camping, and it reminded me why my work matters so much,” Powell said. “Seeing young people who were completely opposed to the idea step out of their comfort zone, give ti a try and end up smiling, laughing and fully embracing the experience was powerful. That’s what the work is really about, the opportunity to do, the opportunity to try and the opportunity to experience things some young people may have never imagined for themselves. Sometimes exposure changes everything.”

Powell was also recognized as one of Delaware’s Most Influential People in 2023 and OUTLOUD received the Dreamkeepers Foundation Leader of Tomorrow Award, both very meaningful to her. She explained that those awards affirmed the grassroots, community centered work she was doing mattered and that people were paying attention to the impact being made.

“One of the biggest challenges has been building something from the ground up while navigating limited resources and trying to sustain meaningful impact,” Powell said. “There were some moments of uncertainty, financial hardship and learning how to navigate systems that are not always designed for grassroots organizations. But those challenges strengthened my faith, resilience and commitment to creating equitable access and opportunity for our communities.”

Powell has also faced tremendous loss in her young life. Her twin brother and a close friend died in a car accident in 2016. Another close friend also died in a car accident a few years later. Her father, who was one of her biggest supporters, passed away in 2021. Transforming her grief into purpose, Powell has dedicated her life to ensuring others have access to the tools, support and community they need to heal and thrive.

“The award honestly wasn’t something I was pursuing and being the inaugural recipient is deeply humbling and an incredible honor,” Powell said. “But for me, the work continues. Right now, my focus is on staying grounded in the community, serving our youth and continuing to build safe spaces that promote wellness, healing, leadership and opportunity for all. We’re continuing to expand programs, strengthen partnerships and work toward long-term initiatives that create lasting impact across Delaware and beyond.”

Learn more about the work of OUTLOUD DE by visiting them online.