Presidential Precinct Fellow Grace Jerry Introduces President Obama at Summit

Grace Jerry is a music artist, disability rights advocate, and peace promoter in Nigeria who served as inspiration for hundreds of leaders attending the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders (YALI) Presidential Summit in Washington D.C. when she introduced President Obama. The Presidential Summit followed six weeks of academic study and leadership training for the 500 Fellows at the Presidential Precinct and 19 other higher education institutions across the United States. Grace was selected to represent the fellows and introduce President Obama due to her inspirational story and leadership using music to promote awareness of human rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Thirteen years ago Grace was in a car accident that left her with a mobility challenge (paraplegia), and for the first time while in the US, she felt freedom…freedom thanks to a society that takes in consideration disabilities and accessibility when designing buildings, walkways, toilets and public transportation. These are some of the lessons learned she wants to bring back to Nigeria, Africa, and the world

She has been described as the Wheelchair Beauty Queen who with her grace and talent promotes and advocates for people with disabilities.

One of her favorite initiatives that she wants to expand is “Music for Toilets.” It’s a series of benefit concerts that she sings and organizes. The sales of tickets and CDs go toward installing flush toilets and bringing clean drinking water at schools for children with disabilities.

As the Director of Inclusive Friends, she promotes inclusive access to water sanitation, and hygiene, serving people with disabilities and ending gender-based violence. As she thinks of next steps, she will use the platform created during this fellowship to continue empowering women through a new association that will give them opportunities to be active players in the economy and become an ambassador for these issues around the world.

Grace Jerry’s Introduction and President Obama’s Remarks at the YALI Presidential Summit

Grace Jerry’s Video Blog

Grace Jerry’s rise to fame happened quickly.  During the first week of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program at the Presidential Precinct, Grace Jerry performed an impromptu performance of her original YALI Tribute “E Go Happen” [Yes We Can] at the Bridge in Charlottesville, VA.  Grace’s inspirational song is about all people, regardless of backgrounds, finding their voice to become a catalyst for change, specifically within the Young African Leaders Initiative. Grace’s performance became an Internet sensation and received over 100,000 views within 24 hours of posting it online.

E Go Happen [Yes We Can] – Live Performance 

The Presidential Precinct worked with James McLaughlin and David Tewksbury in a recording studio in Charlottesville to produce her song. The Precinct’s production team then filmed a music video at James Madison’s Montpelier and later released the video.

E Go Happen [Yes We Can] – Music Video

After the video was released, the State Department and White House invited Grace to represent the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship and introduce President Obama at the Presidential Summit.

Grace’s Reaction to Being Invited to Introduce President Obama

Download E Go Happen by Grace Jerry on SoundCloud

About The Presidential Precinct
The Presidential Precinct’s mission is to empower the next generation of influential leaders through education, collaboration, and global networking. By partnering two universities and three Presidential sites, the Precinct provides a physical venue unparalleled in historic breadth, academic strength, and physical beauty. We empower leaders to learn from world history, find expert advice, exchange ideas, access professional development resources, and solve the most pressing challenges in their communities.

For more information about the Presidential Precinct’s Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit www.presidentialprecinct.org/yali.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a U.S. government program that is supported in its implementation by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit http://yali.state.gov and join the conversation with #YALI2015.