Janai N. McKissick, Board Secretary

Janai N. McKissick is a classically trained vocalist, educator, leader, and proud native of Jacksonville, Florida.

Growing up, Janai frequently found herself at the intersection of ministry, education and community engagement through initiatives with her home church’s children and youth departments, around school, and within the Jacksonville community. She’s volunteered with various educational programs like Saturday School (B.E.S.T. Academy) and summer school through her home church, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church, tutoring children and youth around the city, and offering her time with organizations such as Hope’s Closet and Clara White Mission, Inc.

Janai graduated from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Hampton University in May 2019. Upon graduating, Janai was accepted to perform at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia as part of an Honors Performance Series with various young artists and vocalists from across the nation. Janai began teaching at Woodland Acres Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida as a literacy tutor with AmeriCorps, Inc. through Communities in Schools, Inc. She continued to teach during her move to Orlando, Florida and later began working at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts as Administrative Assistant to their Programming department, later, as a Coordinator with their Education department.

Janai currently serves as District Aide to State Senator LaVon Bracy Davis for Senate District 15. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated by way of the Orange County (FL) Alumnae Chapter as well as Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity in the Orlando Alumnae Chapter in Province C. Additionally, she serves as Secretary for Pine Hills Community Council Board of Directors.