The year 2026 will usher in a new civil rights organization aimed at addressing modern social and economic challenges, as well as begin a new chapter in the personal life of Reverend Dr. Paul Jakes, who announced his engagement during a press conference on the South Side.

The event at Providence Bank, 7801 S. State Street, marked the formal introduction of the Council of Black Elders, a policy-focused organization that will work to educate communities, elevate civic awareness, and address structural barriers affecting families and neighborhoods.

During the program Jakes honored attorney James D. Montgomery, Northeastern Illinois University Professor Emeritus Robert Starks, and recognized former Illinois Senator Howard Brookins for his work on a remap bill that increased the number of Black judges across the state.

State Representative La Shawn Ford (D-8th) served as the keynote speaker.

In announcing the formation of the Council of Black Elders, Jakes said the organization will be headquartered at 1809 E. 71st St., the former home of the Black United Fund of Illinois, a space long associated with Black civic leadership and community empowerment.

“This is an organization made up of people who fought to maintain the gains of those who helped elect Mayor Harold Washington and Barack Obama, and those who organized and supported the Million Man March,” Jakes said. 

“But the issues of today are not the issues of 30 or 40 years ago. Every generation has its own concerns, and those concerns must be addressed.”

Jakes said the Council is not intended to function as a direct service agency, but rather as a policy-education and advocacy organization focused on helping communities understand how public systems affect their daily lives.

“We may change our methods, but not our principles,” he said. “We have to ask what we’re doing for people who can’t fill out the forms for heating assistance, for job applications, or for housing. We have to be willing to go out of our way to fill the gaps.”

He added that the organization will focus on strengthening families and communities by helping residents understand how economic, educational, and governmental systems intersect.

“Community doesn’t exist without families,” Jakes said. “And when families struggle, the entire community feels it. That’s why this work has to be intentional and informed.”

Looking out over a crowd that included longtime activists and organizers, among them Nation of Islam leader Leonard Muhammad and Enoch Muhammad, Jakes emphasized the need for faith leaders to remain engaged with the realities facing younger generations.

“Faith leaders must have their fingers on the pulse of what’s happening now,” he said. “We have to listen to young people, not just talk to them. We have to understand what they’re facing and walk with them through it.”

Jakes said the Council of Black Elders will work to connect historical perspective with present-day challenges, ensuring that hard-earned political and social gains are not lost.

“We want to make sure that what was built through sacrifice doesn’t disappear because we failed to prepare the next generation,” he said.

In addition to announcing the new organization, Jakes also shared personal news, revealing that he will marry Pastor Dr. Thenesia K. Williams in June 2026.

Williams is a former warden at the Joliet Treatment Center and currently serves as a vocational training administrator for the State of Illinois. She is also pastor of Live Outreach Ministries and an associate pastor at New Tabernacle of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, where Jakes is senior pastor.

Born on Chicago’s West Side, Williams is the mother of five adult children and has built a career spanning corrections, education, and ministry. Her academic background includes degrees in sociology and business management, a degree in clinical mental health counseling, a master’s degree in addiction studies, a doctorate in psychology, and a Doctor of Divinity.

Jakes said Williams’ professional and spiritual experience has influenced his work and broadened his perspective on leadership and service.

“She gives me a different lens,” he said. “She understands systems, she understands people, and she understands what it means to serve in difficult spaces.”

Reflecting on his years as an assistant to U.S. Representative Danny Davis, Jakes said he learned that leadership is not defined by titles but by service.

“It’s not about the job,” he said. “It’s about the people. Institutions can’t operate in arrogance. They have to operate in principle. That’s what good government looks like.”

Looking ahead, Jakes said he hopes the Council of Black Elders will be remembered for helping to prepare future leaders and strengthen communities across generations.

“Five or ten years from now, I hope people will say that we were wise enough to bring young people to the table, to mentor them, and to partner with them in building something better,” he said. “That’s how real change happens.”