Jacquelyn was born in Hyde Park, Chicago, to a family that exposed her to art and music at a very early age.
Both of her parents were well known educators in the Chicago Public School system. Frances (her mother) insisted on piano lessons and Jacquelyn got plenty of exposure to fine artists, museums, theater, concerts, and her father was the director and then VP of Public Affairs and Promotion at the corporate offices of Johnson Publishing Company (publisher of Ebony and Jet magazine).
Tragically, Jacquelyn and her siblings lost their parents and grandparents very early in their lives. Remarkably, each sibling completed college. Jacquelyn has a BS in Marketing and an MBA with a finance concentration from the University of Illinois. Jocelyn holds a BS in pharmacy and Pharm.D. from Ohio State University. Reginald Jr. earned a fine arts degree from Illinois State. Vincil, a retired alegbra and calculus teacher, and award-winning basketball coach, is the founder and executive director of Project Education Plus in Chicago. Their parents would be extremely proud.
The foundation laid by Jacquelyn’s parents led to many academic and professional achievements for Jacquelyn. After graduation, Ms. Hayes joined Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, where she held many progressively challenging positions in corporate finance. She was the first woman to lead a finance operation at a major manufacturing plant. She held many other leadership roles at Ford and at automotive suppliers VITEC and Kautex.
Jacquelyn was also a founding member for two cutting-edge employee resources groups, a founding member for the Ford Employee African Ancestry Network (FAAN), and a founding member for Women in Finance. Additionally, she established an endowed scholarship at the University of Illinois, was on the board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Detroit, held leadership positions at many professional associations, and has mentored many young people.
The Importance of Art
Jacquelyn and her family realize the impact education has on quality of life, critical thinking, and the appreciation for the diversity of different cultures. Jacquelyn has always enjoyed all forms of art. She credits the Detroit Institute of Arts’ (DIA) Friends of African and African American Arts (FAAA) with providing enlightening seminars and exposure to different artists and the nuances of collecting. The Detroit metropolitan area is a rich mecca of fabulous artists who are showcased on the world stage. Gallery owners and collectors generously shared their knowledge and opened their homes to foster and encourage collectors like Ms. Hayes. Noted artists include Al Loving, Hughie Lee Smith, Richard, Mayhew, Howardena Pindell, Faith Ringgold, and many others.
A notable milestone associated with Jacquelyn’s collection was the 2003 major museum exhibition at the Wright Museum in Detroit Michigan. The exhibition celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Ford Motor Company and it went on to travel the country.
Recently, Ms. Hayes has taken an interest in supporting up-and-coming artists who express powerful statements regarding human rights, civil rights, and other current issues. Artists working in this space include TAFA, Paul Benjamin, Marcus Jansen, and Jonathon Harris. She also is on the lookout for pieces that focus on education, learning, literacy, and the humanity of different cultures.
Presently, Jacquelyn’s collection encompasses more than 80 artworks including Romare Bearden, Paul Benjamin, Elizabeth Catlett, Donald Calloway, Marcus Glen, Marcus Jansen, Grace Kisa, Carl Owens, TAFA, Carmel Washington, and Lee White. Her collection also includes sculpture from west African cultures and oil paintings from Mexico and Guatemala.
Ms. Hayes currently resides in sunny Las Vegas. She is still collecting art and spends her vacations in museums. In 2023, Jacquelyn founded Hayes Advocacy for Vegas Arts (HAVarts) to foster programming that builds a tsunami of future art lovers.
The Future
Many educational institutions are revising their core curriculum objectives from STEM to STEAM, recognizing that art, philosophy, ethics, and appreciation for humanity are necessary parts of a holistic education and healthy communities. This increased recognition can be seen in HAVarts mission: to develop ongoing programming that will explore, expand, and educate people of all ages.