Meet Wanda Jones, the dynamic CEO and Chairwoman of the Board at Minding My Business. With over 30 years of dedication to serving the underserved, Wanda has been a beacon of hope and empowerment in her community. She has a passion for working with youth, helping them become the best versions of themselves, and she thrives on aiding families to live healthy, whole lives, rebuilding one family at a time.

Wanda’s impact stretches back to her 12-year tenure as Director of the East Orange Police Athletic League (PAL) in New Jersey. Leading one of the state’s largest PALs, she supported over 1,500 youth annually, backed by 35 volunteer police officers, LISC volunteers, local college students, and a dedicated parental volunteer base. Wanda spearheaded 9 athletic programs, various mentoring initiatives, cultural and performing arts programs, pioneering educational and recreational summer programs, and effective anti-bullying and anti-gang campaigns. She also introduced financial literacy programs through partnerships with local financial institutions, helping families get out of debt, boost their credit scores, and achieve homeownership.

Wanda’s fundraising prowess is legendary. She raised over $4.5 million through grants and grassroots efforts, plus $3.7 million in retail donations for local families and communities. She donated over $1 million in books by African American authors to schools and libraries via a collaboration with Essence Magazine, sent $1 million in clothing, footwear, personal care items and baby needs to Katrina victims, and provided a tractor-trailer of Dell printers via yet another corporate partnership with to nonprofits and schools in the surrounding local communities.

In the corporate world, Wanda has held numerous leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies, often managing multiple top executives’ schedules. At one local hospital, she was part of the team that secured a $3.5 million CDC grant to combat HIV, offering free, rapid testing to the less fortunate.

Wanda is a trailblazer in youth leadership. She introduced youth to Toastmasters, preparing them to meet with congressional, state and local representatives to address youth violence. This initiative also led to the first youth component in a local NJ Transit membership, a groundbreaking success.

She has served on various committees and boards, including the Newark Boys and Girls Club (Broadway Unit), working alongside the late Congressman Donald Payne, Sr. Wanda’s heart for people drives her to bring quality change to lives, never leaving a stone unturned to make a difference.

In her leisure time, you might find Wanda at a Gospel/Jazz concert, enjoying a ballet or cultural performance, or diving into a good book. She loves engaging in stimulating conversations about life and its evolution and has recently become a regular at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Wanda Jones is truly a force for positive change!