Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Jackson.
Hi cheryl, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I often say I didn’t choose this work — it chose me.
I grew up the daughter of a preacher’s kid who believed service wasn’t something you did; it was who you were. Years later, after losing everything and experiencing huger myself, I decided I’d spend the rest of my life helping others stand back up.
In 2008, with two cans of corn and a heart full of faith, I opened Minnie’s Food Pantry in honor of my late mother. People laughed — it was April Fool’s Day — but seventeen years later we’ve served more than 31 million meals, expanded to 12 locations, and built a national model for feeding people with dignity. Along the way, I’ve had the honor of working with leaders like Oprah Winfrey, Rihanna, and Jim Parsons — proof that when your cause is right, the world shows up.
Today I serve as the CEO of Minnie’s Food Pantry, founder of Level Up Leadership and Action Academy, and author of the new book The Power of Action: Leadership Stories from the Front Line. My journey from hunger/ homelessness to the White House podium taught me this: success without a successor is failure. Everything I do now — from serving meals to coaching leaders — is about building people, not just programs.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not — the road has had more twists and valleys than mountaintops.
When I started Minnie’s Food Pantry, I had no budget, no building, and no roadmap — just a calling to feed people with dignity. There were nights I cried wondering if the lights would stay on, times I wrote donation letters that went unanswered, and seasons when I had to choose between paying my own bills or keeping the pantry doors open.
Losing my parents during the journey was another deep valley. My mother Minnie, whose name is on the pantry, passed away on Mother’s Day weekend. I still see butterflies and feel her presence every time we serve someone in need.
I also had to learn leadership the hard way — making decisions that weren’t always popular, facing criticism, and realizing that growing an organization means growing yourself. From being laughed at for starting with two cans of corn to weathering the pandemic’s surge in hunger, every struggle felt like a test of faith and perseverance.
But I believe that the hard roads built my character and taught me the power of gratitude, relationships, and relentless action. The storms made the victories sweeter, and every obstacle became part of the testimony I share in The Power of Action.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to say I’m in the people business — feeding them, leading them, and helping them believe again.
I’m best known as the founder and CEO of Minnie’s Food Pantry, which started in 2008 with just two cans of corn and now has provided over 31 million meals with dignity and hope. I’m also the founder of Level Up Leadership and Action Academy, where I teach leaders how to turn vision into impact by practicing what I call the Power of Action.
My specialty is action-driven, heart-centered leadership. I combine my lived experience — from hungry/homelessness to leading a nationally recognized nonprofit — with practical tools to help people move from intention to execution. I’m proud that my work has been recognized by Oprah Winfrey, who calls Minnie’s “love made visible,” and that celebrities like Rihanna, Jim Parsons, and many others have joined the mission. We literally roll out the red carpet to serve our families.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the awards or even the 31 million meals. It’s that every meal, every hug, and every leadership lesson carries my late mother Minnie’s spirit of compassion forward.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just talk about leadership — I live it on the front lines. I’ve served in the pantry lines, cried with families at their lowest, and built programs that change lives. I believe success isn’t about titles or applause — it’s about impact, and that’s why my mantra is:
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Building Systems, Not Just Moments
I’m investing in strong data, processes, and capacity so that the mission doesn’t rest on any one person. If AI or automation can help streamline repetitive tasks, I’ll use it — but only to free up humans to do what machines can’t: show up, feel, connect, heal, lead.
Cultivating Leadership That’s Grounded & Compassionate
I’ll keep teaching from the front lines — the kitchen line, the pantry, the sleepless nights — not just from the stage. Leaders who get messy know how to reach people deeper.
Staying Adaptive, Not Attached
As funding landscapes shift or crises arise, I want the structure to bend without breaking. That’s why flexible grants, trust relationships with funders, partnerships, and diverse revenue models are nonnegotiables.
Deepening Legacy Through Succession
I don’t want Minnie’s to be “Dr. Jackson’s ministry.” I want it to be ours—where new leaders step forward, empowered. My measure of success in 10 years will not be how many meals we serve, but how many “nexts” we produced.
Pricing:
- 19.99 Cheryls New Book
- .99 the kindle version
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cherylaction.com/
- Instagram: cherylaction
- Facebook: cherylactionjackson
- LinkedIn: cherylaction
- Twitter: cherylaction
