A.F.H.G. Keynote Speaker

It is a rare and significant occasion when an actor expands his horizons by starting his own production company with the intention of producing quality work to make an impact on society. Actor/Producer/Director/ Writer/Entertainer, Faith Based Leader, Educator, Dr. David Jefferson Jr., is without a doubt among this very select group of individuals. The roots of his talent stem from his experience as a professional model at a very young age, but reach way beyond those parameters to performing in feature films, television and theater along with working in education.  Dr. Jefferson has become one of today’s most extraordinary accomplished and unique talents.

Early on he was recognized to be an avid reader and an inquisitive young man with a gift of oratorical expression.  Upon graduating from Morris Catholic High School, David entered the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia pursuing a degree in Pre-Law. Approaching his sophomore year, David made the decision to primarily focus on the craft emerging from within and change his major from Pre-law to Drama and English. Dr. Jefferson’s  real education in the business would come by meeting the honorable Percy Sutton, Chairman Emeritus of Inner City Broadcasting who became his mentor.  He provided an internship for David at the legendary 107.5 WBLS in New York; N.Y. where David would hone his skills in radio production and work toward being on air talent. Working with radio legends Jeff Fox, Sergio Dean, Hal Jackson and Wendy Williams.  He went on to work “Showtime at the Apollo” as a talent coordinator. David's extraordinary energy and commitment to learning would be beneficial when he received the opportunity to work behind the scenes in the broadcasting and production business. He created the DJ Jefferson Show in 2015. Most recently he worked as an on air personality for Audacy’s 94.7 The Block in New York City. His weekly show “Community to Community” was one of the highlights of the station, connecting community leaders with the general public from a highly intellectual and educational perspective. 

In the spring of 2000, Dr. Jefferson had already appeared in two major motion pictures “Black and White” and the mega blockbuster film Disney's, “Remember the Titans”, starring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. David’s appearance in the film was noted in The October 9, 2000 Film Review in The New York Times.  He has also appeared on HBO's hit show “Sex and the City” and Fox's “Americas Most Wanted” and several television commercials.  David received accolades for his work with the film “Brown Sugar” from Director Rick Famuyiwa as well as “Anything Else”, directed by Woody Allen.

Not only have Dr. Jefferson’s talents in the motion picture industry become nationally acknowledged, he now has embarked on other ventures to solidify a stronghold in the ever changing business. In the summer of 2001 he would create DJJ Productions LLC, a multi-faceted production company with the mission to "Bridge the Gap Between Education Sports Entertainment and Spirituality" On October 12, 2002 the company launched its first event, the 1st Annual DJJ Celebrity Basketball Game Benefit, attracting notable celebrities and athletes to help emphasize the importance of education and its role in the success of any career, especially sports and entertainment. The long term goals of DJJ Productions are to educate, produce and direct documentaries, short and feature films along with film/radio production for media related purposes. Dr. Jefferson has already penned his first film “Black Nor White”, shot in summer 2004.  He would also produce/direct/star in, “A Raisin in the Sun”, where it received accolades for its run.  His apprenticeship with Spike Lee on the feature film, “Inside Man”, starring Denzel Washington continued to ground his professional rearing.  His craft has allowed him to work abroad in countries such as Italy, Turkey and Greece.

After studying at the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television Tisch School of the Arts at the New York University, Dr. Jefferson acknowledged his calling to the ministry. Dr. Jefferson currently serves as the Youth Pastor and Executive Director of Youth and Young Adult Services at the historical Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey where his father Dr. David Jefferson Sr., Esq. resides as Pastor.  He has also served as Interim Pastor at the Community Church of East Williston, in Long Island, New York. A dynamic educator,  ministerial motivational speaker and radio producer and host, his contributions have been duly noted by his mentors, Senator Corey Booker, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Cleophus Larue, Rev. Al Sharpton, Dr. Calvin Butts and his father Dr. David Jefferson Sr. Esq. Prior to working with higher education, 

Dr. Jefferson is a leader in K-12 educational services. Providing school based mentoring, parental engagement and professional development curriculum that thrive throughout the state of New Jersey. His work in the K-12 space propelled him to working in government affairs. In 2014 Dr. Jefferson headed up President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative for the City of Newark, New Jersey as Executive Director. This prominent role under the leadership of President Barack Obama and Mayor Ras Baraka secured Dr. Jefferson as a preeminent worker in the mentoring, advising space and parental engagement landscape. 

After a solid career of mentoring and advising young people alongside working with parents for the past 20 years, Dr. Jefferson is now happy to be in the higher educational space. David has Co-Founded Dreams4Youth and Dreamz4Youth, a non-profit/for-profit organization(s) created to provide educational programs and initiatives for inner-city youths, along with providing scholarships and financial assistance to further the cause for creating educational opportunities for youth. In 2011 Congressman Donald Payne recognized Dreams4Youth’s “School’s in Session Tour” for their exemplary programming. In 2016 he created the Empowered Parent University to aid in parental engagement in school districts. This work focuses on the involvement of parents and caregivers in their child's education and the activities of the school district in which they reside. His focus includes promoting and motivating parents to attend parent-teacher conferences, volunteering in the classroom, participating in school events and activities, and supporting their child's learning at home along with leading workshops.

Dr. David Jefferson Jr currently serves as the Acting Director for the Center of Africana Studies out of the College of Education at Kean University, in Union, New Jersey. He also served as the founding leader for the Faith Based Policy Institute at Kean in addition to being an adjunct professor, public speaker and lecturer. Dr. Jefferson is a proud cum-laude graduate of the prestigious Morehouse College where he holds a Bachelors of Arts degree. He is also a proud inductee of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Morehouse College Board of Preachers and Laity. In addition Dr. Jefferson completed his Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, in Princeton, New Jersey where he graduated with honors. Dr. Jefferson is a proud recipient of Princetons’ Kenyon J. Wildrick award in homiletics. Dr. Jefferson completed his work as a doctoral student in Educational Leadership at the Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ with a focus on higher educational leadership, management and institutional advancement with a focus in finance. Dr. Jefferson was selected as the commencement speaker for the 2022 Saint Elizabeth graduating class, one of his highest honors of achievement. He is also a proud recipient of the Saint Elizabeth Sister Francis Raftery  Excellence in Educational Leadership Award. 

He chairs endowment fund’s for professional athletes and celebrities eliminating the achievement gap for youth at-risk. Dr. Jefferson is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, where he has served in an executive capacity. In addition he has been awarded the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, 2nd District Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays Divinity Award. He is also a Dr. Moses C. Norman Sr, Education Scholar Award winner.  Dr. Jefferson was honored as the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Omicron Chi Chapter 2021 Educator of the Year award winner.  Dr. Jefferson’s career continues on the road of tireless and indomitable creativity.  He has built a foundation to inspire, create and share his experiences. Dr. David Jefferson Jr. is the only son of Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr. Esq and Rev. Linda Mouton Jefferson.  He has three loving sisters. He is the proud co-parent of three children, Naiya Kimberly, a Spelman College graduate, Ryann-Simone who attends Immaculate High school and David Jefferson III who matriculates at Morehouse College.