Born and raised in Lincoln, Delaware, Jalyn Powell proudly describes herself as a “country girl through and through.”
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A graduate of Milford Senior High School and Delaware State University, where she studied Political Science, Powell went on to earn an advanced law degree focused on Human Rights and Rule of Law. Today, she is pursuing her doctorate in Transformative Social Change while simultaneously building one of Delaware’s most impactful youth wellness organizations. Recently, on Friday, May 1, she was recognized for her impact by receiving the inaugural Joseph R. Biden Rising Star Award at the Delaware Democratic Party’s annual state dinner.
Growing up in Sussex County, where open land, close-knit communities, and faith-centered family values shaped her worldview, Powell learned early lessons in service, gratitude, and resilience. Whether gardening and fishing with her grandfather or watching her mother give back to those in need, her childhood laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong commitment to advocacy.
“Family was everything,” Powell shared. “My faith has always been my moral compass.”
Turning Pain Into Purpose
While leadership always surrounded her—from team captain roles to academic success—her path into social justice and mental health advocacy was deeply personal.
After the devastating loss of her twin brother in 2016, followed by the deaths of her best friend and father in the years after, Powell found herself confronting grief, trauma, and the urgent need for healing spaces within Black communities.
Rather than allowing those experiences to break her, she transformed them into purpose.
Her own mental health journey, including therapy and advocacy work, became the driving force behind OUTLOUD LLC, a Delaware-based platform that evolved from a speaking business into a powerful movement dedicated to youth leadership, healing, prevention, and social change.
What OUTLOUD Means
“Voice doesn’t equate volume,” Powell explained. “We speak out through healing, giving back, and standing up for what is right.”
OUTLOUD now serves communities across Delaware through programs focused on:
- Youth mental health and substance misuse prevention
- Civic engagement and leadership development
- Student-athlete wellness
- Workforce readiness
- Community healing circles
- Skate to Wellness family events
- Girl Code and Bro Code mentorship initiatives
Its flagship programs are already active in schools statewide, including Sussex Central, Sussex Tech, Seaford High, Dover Middle, and more.
To date, OUTLOUD has:
- Trained over 150 youth wellness ambassadors
- Impacted more than 500 students annually
- Generated over $100,000 in organizational revenue
- Secured more than $250,000 in pending awards
Building Through Faith and Strategy
Launching and sustaining the organization was not easy.
After stepping fully into nonprofit leadership without financial security, Powell faced months of uncertainty, personal sacrifice, and relentless networking.
But through persistence, strategic growth, and faith, OUTLOUD has emerged as a powerful force for change in Delaware’s youth development ecosystem.
“More than anything, that season taught me resilience, discipline, and how to build with both faith and strategy,” she said.
A Vision for Delaware’s Future
For Powell, Delaware is more than home, it is opportunity.
“Delaware really is a blueprint state,” she explained. “We’re small enough to build real relationships and actually access decision-makers.”
Her long-term mission is clear:
- Empower young people to lead
- Normalize mental wellness in Black communities
- Foster healthier, stronger communities
- Ensure youth voices are represented at decision-making tables
She hopes her legacy will be one where Delaware youth are no longer overlooked, but prioritized.
Final Message to Delaware
“The grass is greener where you water it,” Powell said. “Create the Delaware you wish to live in and be the change you wish to see.”
Through OUTLOUD, Jalyn Powell is doing exactly that—building a stronger, healthier, and more empowered Delaware, one young leader at a time.
