Sisters Network Inc. Founder and CEO 

 

Karen Eubanks Jackson

 

Karen Jackson

Karen Eubanks Jackson, Founder/CEO of Sisters Network® Inc. (SNI), a 30-year four time breast cancer survivor and author who  is recognized nationally as a true visionary and national leader in the Black breast cancer movement. Sisters Network Inc. is nation’s largest and only national Black breast cancer survivorship organization. Jackson continues to lead Sisters Network’s nationwide effort to focus the spotlight on increasing breast cancer awareness in the Black community. The organization provides standardized national educational outreach programs; survivor & family support; empowerment; hope and financial assistance to thousands of women annually through its national network of over 25 survivor-run affiliate chapters.

In 1994, Jackson founded Sisters Network Inc., during her personal fight to survive breast cancer Jackson recognized a lack of “sisterhood” in traditional organizations, a staggering breast cancer mortality rate for African American women and limited culturally sensitive material. Often referred to as a breast cancer champion, Jackson’s primary motivation was to break through the silence and shame of breast cancer that immobilizes African American women, restricts their ability to receive support services, interferes with early detection, and ultimately affects their survival rates.

Jackson’s breast health matters advocacy work has garnered numerous awards and recognitions. BET Her Fights Breast Cancer TV Award, Ebony Magazine Power 100 List, JC Penney “Champion of Change,” TNT Dramatic Difference award, Breast Cancer Hero by Lifetime TV, The Jefferson Award-NBC, Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. “Status of Women award,” National Council of Negro Women Inc. Impact Service Award, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center award, ICC- Hope Award, Founders Award for Leadership, BET award, “History Maker in the Making”  the Lance Armstrong, “Voice of Survivorship.”

Under her leadership, Sisters Network has developed numerous national breast health outreach initiatives including, Hosting the first National African American Breast Cancer Conference and Breast Cancer 10-city Conference Tour, the annual Stop the Silence National African American Breast Cancer 5k Walk/Run attracting nearly 10,000 participants each year and Teens4Pink, a former innovative award winning teen breast health awareness program. Additionally, Sisters’ offers the Gift for Life Block Walk®, Pink Ribbon Faith Base Awareness and the Breast Cancer Assistance Program.

Sisters Network has provided over $1million in conference scholarships to help train African American breast cancer survivors to be advocate leaders in their communities through its national African American Breast Cancer conference.

Understanding the historical difficulty in the African American community to discuss cancer and other health concerns, Jackson created a national slogan and branding campaign: STOP THE SILENCE ® to encourage African Americans to discuss their family health and history.

A recognized and highly sought breast cancer expert, Jackson is frequently invited to speak on the international and national stage and share her perspective on the state of breast cancer in the African American community. She has been a featured speaker to the U.S. Army’s Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center in Germany, the National Congressional Black Caucus and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and many more. 

Jackson has been featured in numerous national newspapers, magazines, television, radio programs, and Internet media outlets, inclusive of the Huffington Report, Essence, New York Times, Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, Ebony, Web MD, Jet, Black Enterprise, Breast Cancer Wellness, The Tom Joyner Morning Show and other media outlets. She is a published co-author of several works, including “Breast Diseases: A Year Book Quarterly, Vol.14 No.22003; Breast Cancer in African American Women: The Evolution of Sisters Network, Inc; A National African American Breast Cancer Survivor Advocate Organization with Lisa A. Newman, M.D., F.A.C.S.  She is featured in several books “Breast Cancer Black Women”, “My Mother’s Breast, Celebrating Life” and “Black Health Matters Summit.”

Jackson is an Honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and a member of The Houston TX. Chapter of Links, Incorporated, a Lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and a National member of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW).

A leader, visionary and most importantly a 4-time breast cancer survivor, Karen E. Jackson continues to make a difference every day in the lives African American women. She is committed to Sisters Network® Inc national creed: “In Unity there is Strength, In Strength there is Power, In Power there is Change.” ©1995 KEJ 


Jackson attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She is surrounded by love from her husband of 36 years, Kyle Scott Jackson, daughter Caleen and two granddaughters Brianna & Alexis.

 

Jackson released her memoir, “In the Company of My Sisters: My Story, My Truth”.