Dr. Jackie Kimbrough, Ph.D.

Jackie Kimbrough, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Dr. Kimbrough is founding Director of The Children’s Collective, Inc., a non-profit corporation that observed 51 years of exemplary service to the community in July 2023. She received the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (with a minor in German) from the University of Texas at Austin (1968) and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles (1974). In 2007, she completed the Executive Program in Management at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles.

As a UCLA graduate student, her interest in improving life outcomes for children led her to found The Children’s Collective, Inc. Annually, The Children’s Collective, Inc. serves more than 5,000 children, youth and adults in Child Development, Youth Development, Family Support and Health at 13 Los Angeles locations.

Through a staff of 140, TCCI enhances early learning and development for more than 800 infants, toddlers and preschoolers; provides more than 267,000 nutritious meals per year to children; improves academic outcomes for middle and high school students; increases family income; reduces food insecurity through distribution of healthy foods in low income communities; promotes healthy births and healthy parenting for at-risk African American Women; and provides immigration assistance for citizenship.

A research psychologist at the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica for eleven years, Dr. Kimbrough’s work on disparities between federal policy and local implementation resulted in policy changes to increase resources for minority children. As consultant to LAUSD’s Research and Evaluation Branch, she led a team evaluating strategies to reduce the harms of racial isolation for minority children. As an advocate for children in underserved communities, Dr. Kimbrough identified flaws in a State formula for allocating child care funds. Working with a state legislator, she challenged the formula, resulting in additional funds for low-income communities. In higher education, Dr. Kimbrough taught courses in Evaluation Research and Personality Theory at UCLA, CSU Dominguez Hills, California School of Professional Psychology and The Wright Institute.

Civic involvement included an appointment as Commissioner on the Los Angeles City Commission for Children, Youth and their Families, where she served as Chair of the Child Care Policy Task Force. As Far West Coordinator of Delta Sigma Theta’s Habitat for Humanity program, Dr. Kimbrough led the effort to build a home for a homeless African-American family in Lynwood, California. As a member of The Links, Inc., she provided humanitarian assistance to women and children in refugee camps in Sudan and Chad and organized groups to advocate an end to the genocide. With the Western Area of The Links, Inc., she implemented 59 for the Future, a program that prepares high achieving African American girls to become Global Thought Leaders, knowledgeable and confident as advocates of policy in the public interest.

Recognizing her contributions to women, children and families, Los Angeles County named Dr. Kimbrough Woman of the Year. Her advocacy has been publicly recognized by the California Afro American Museum, Delta Sigma Theta, Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Top Ladies of Distinction. Her work to prevent genocide of people in Sudan won annual awards from The Links, Incorporated, as well as from Jewish World Watch. One of her proudest accomplishments is reducing the risk of rape, violence and genocide for 15,000 girls in refugee camps in Sudan and Chad. Another is that the company she built as a young woman has invested more than $200 million in programs to improve the lives of children, youth and families in South Los Angeles.

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