(BALTIMORE – July 5, 2026) — Great communities aren’t built by chance.
They’re built by leaders who know how to bring people together, secure resources, and transform vision into reality.
Jennifer Wicks is one of those leaders.
Wicks, Executive Director of the Presidents’ RoundTable (PRT) and the PRT Reach Foundation, will be honored with the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Award during the Black Wall Street Summit: National Black Business Month Edition, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the PS 103 Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center, 1315 Division Street, Baltimore.
Presented by BMORENews and BlackUSA.News, the Summit celebrates leadership, entrepreneurship, community development, and economic empowerment during National Black Business Month.
Jennifer Wicks has built her career around one central idea: meaningful change happens when vision is matched with execution.
As Executive Director of the Presidents’ RoundTable and the PRT Reach Foundation, she leads strategic growth, partnership development, and community investment initiatives that strengthen Black businesses, cultivate leadership, and expand economic opportunity.
Her work connects entrepreneurs with resources, organizations with funding, and ideas with the partnerships needed to make them a reality.
She is also the founder of Aventurine Developers, a community-focused development and consulting firm that helps nonprofits, businesses, and community organizations move projects from concept to completion.
Whether the challenge involves fundraising, construction management, grant development, stakeholder engagement, or strategic communications, Jennifer has developed a reputation for helping organizations navigate complexity while remaining focused on long-term impact.
That ability has made her a trusted leader throughout Baltimore’s nonprofit and development communities.
Previously, Jennifer served as Chief Development Officer for the Greater Baltimore Urban League, where she managed a multi-million-dollar fundraising portfolio and helped lead strategic initiatives, including restoration planning for the historic Orchard Street Church, an important landmark in Baltimore’s rich African American history.
Her leadership extends beyond community development.
Jennifer has also directed communications initiatives supporting federally funded programs through the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Education, focusing on public health, stakeholder engagement, and health equity.
A proud Baltimore native and graduate of Morgan State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication, Jennifer also holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.
Her academic preparation, combined with years of practical leadership, has positioned her as someone who understands that sustainable community development requires more than good intentions.
It requires strategy.
It requires collaboration.
And it requires people willing to bring others to the table.
“Jennifer has a remarkable ability to connect people, resources, and purpose,” said Doni Glover, founder of the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards. “She’s one of those leaders working behind the scenes to make sure organizations have what they need to succeed. That’s leadership. That’s community development. And that’s Black Wall Street.”
The Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards recognize individuals who strengthen communities through entrepreneurship, business leadership, public service, education, and civic engagement.
Jennifer Wicks embodies each of those ideals.
She understands that real progress isn’t measured simply by buildings completed or dollars raised.
It’s measured by lives changed, businesses strengthened, and communities empowered.
Event Information
Black Wall Street Summit: National Black Business Month Edition
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PS 103 Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center
1315 Division Street
Baltimore, Maryland
The evening features The Doni Glover Show LIVE, leadership conversations, networking opportunities, and the presentation of the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, celebrating individuals whose work continues to build stronger businesses, stronger neighborhoods, and stronger communities.
🎟 RSVP today: BlackWallStreetSummit26.eventbrite.com
For Jennifer Wicks, community development isn’t simply a profession.
It’s a calling.
And through her leadership, partnerships, and unwavering commitment to Baltimore, she continues helping others turn vision into lasting impact.
That is the spirit of Black Wall Street.
