Vicki Jones

Vicki L Jones is a social entrepreneur and theatre professional who weaves her passions together in international outreach. Ms. Jones received a BA from Drexel University, and a MLA from Johns Hopkins University. She has volunteered at Maryland organizations including The Agape House and Project Plase, served on the Board of Directors of the Glenwood Life Counseling Center, and tutored Baltimore City elementary school students. Ms. Jones held the offices of President and Vice-President of the Zonta Club of Baltimore, the local chapter of Zonta International, an international women's service organization. Vicki was selected by The Baltimore Times as one of their 2016 "Women of Passion, Women of Purpose", and was one of NonProfit PRO Magazine's 2018 Nonprofit Rising Stars. Drexel University's Alumni Board of Governors awarded Vicki the 2021 Mary S. Irick Drexel Society Award for Civic Engagement. Ms. Jones' passion is to improve the lives of others locally and internationally.

Vicki's fashion career began at London Fog Rainwear in Maryland where she was the Head of Sample Line Production. After volunteering as a costumer for local theater companies Vicki shifted into theatrical design. She accepted a wardrobe supervisor position at the Negro Ensemble Company in New York City, and then transitioned into costume design. Ms. Jones has worked with notable actors and directors, including Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad, Samuel L Jackson, and Woodie King Jr. Her interest in social outreach was sparked as a member of New York's historic Riverside Church. Vicki developed a theatre arts program to address the concern of young adult illiteracy, returned to Baltimore and established Bethesda Arts Inc. (BA), to train academically challenged youth in theatre arts. Ms. Jones put BA on hiatus to take a position with the Department of Housing and Community Development for the State of Maryland. She retired in 2016 after seventeen years of assisting Marylanders achieve their dream of first-time homeownership.

Vicki's aspiration to work with Kenyan women took shape after her first mission trip to Kenya in 2006. She founded Bahari Sisters Inc. in 2012 to provide sustainable opportunities for the women to improve their lives. Bahari's focus is on economic, educational and health care initiatives. Current projects include: Support of  Bookshine High schools, a Cosmetology training program and a partnership with Afripads to provide reusable sanitary product to Kenyan girls. Vicki travels to Kenya to meet with the women and hear from them how best Bahari can support their goals.

Vicki is a member of the Educational Theatre Association where she serves on the Education Steering Committee and works as a Teaching Artist (Costume Design.)

Ms. Jones literary works include plays, and a film script. She is finally writing the outline for her first non-fiction book. Vicki's Master's Thesis, which she hopes to expand upon and publish, "Pale Black: The Genre within a Genre in Nineteenth Century American Fiction" suggests that the theme of "racial passing" should be classified as a new literary genre.

Ms. Jones is a member of New Psalmist Baptist Church. She gives all honor to God for His Favor over her life.