From the south side of Chicago, Jamila Trimuel is a results-driven leader and encourages others to pursue purpose at all costs. She is the Founder of Ladies of Virtue, an award winning mentoring program that has empowered over 1,000 girls to become confident and purpose-driven leaders.
As a mentor, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jamila Trimuel has over ten years of experience in strategic planning and community engagement for nonprofit organizations. Jamila is a Broad Residency alum, a highly competitive leadership program that places participants in high-level managerial positions to help transform our public school systems.
Jamila is the product of the South Shore community on Chicago’s southeast side. She attributes a large part of her success to her parents and thanks them for fueling her grit and desire to pursue her passion at all costs. Jamila was recognized as Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Humanitarian Award winner in 2012. She was also recognized as a Change Agent and invited to the United State of Women Summit hosted by the White House in 2016. In 2017, she was recognized by Chicago Scholars for their 35 under 35 Award and received Rush University’s Hidden Figures Award. Jamila was one of the 100 community leaders from Chicago (500 in total around the world) invited to attend the inaugural Obama Foundation Summit in 2017. In addition, she was a 2017 National Mentor Summit Fellow. She also won the Coaches Award at the 2018 Social Venture Partners (SVP) Fast Pitch competition for Chicagoland nonprofits. Jamila also presented her Tedx Talk in 2018 entitled, "Make Today Your Saturday. Live a Fulfilled Life of Purpose." Furthermore, in 2018, Jamila was honored alongside Jesse Jackson Sr. with the "Giving a Hand Out to Give a Hand Up" Mentoring Award by the Calahan Foundation. In 2019, Jamila was honored with the Leading Lady Community Award by the Daisie Foundation.
Jamila has a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Rush University. She also holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from The Broad Center for Management of School Systems. In addition to the Broad Residency, Jamila graduated from several prestigious leadership programs including the Schweitzer Fellowship and the IMPACT Leadership Development Program founded by the Chicago Urban League and the University of Chicago. She is also a Kellogg Executive Scholar from Northwestern University. In addition, she is a Licensed Minister at New Life Covenant – Southeast under the leadership of Pastor John F. Hannah. Jamila resides in the South Loop community with her husband, Damien.
Community Leadership
78 Community Advisory Council member appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Status of Women and Girls Working Group - Co-Chair of the Economic Development Committee - Office of the City Clerk, Anna Valencia
Civic Engagement Advisory Council (Core Member) - Office of the City Clerk, Anna Valencia
Illinois Council for Women and Girls - Founding Steering Committee Member
Greater Bronzeville Neighborhood Network - Workforce Development Steering Committee Member
Coalition for Urban Girls - Steering Committee Member