The quote, "Life Shrinks or Expands in Proportion to One's Courage" are the simple but provoking words that remain at the core of what motivates Karen Eubanks Jackson as she stays steadfast on her life's journey - empower, educate, encourage and mobilize African American women about the importance of breast health awareness.  Quite an ambitious goal for a woman, who just ten years ago, was facing her own personal breast cancer diagnosis.

In 1994, it was that personal health crisis that helped Ms. Jackson realize her true mission when she founded Sisters Network(r) Inc. (SNI), the nation's first African American breast cancer survivorship organization.  A lack of "sisterhood" in traditional support groups, a void in culturally sensitive material and staggering breast health statistics for African American women, compared to other ethnic groups, propelled Ms. Jackson to form the nationally recognized organization.  Her leadership skills and ability to mobilize women have been key factors in the rapid expansion of SNI to 39 chapters and nearly 3000 members nationwide, with all chapters "survivor-run".

Ms. Jackson had the foresight to organize the first African American national breast cancer conference, where this ground-breaking event attracted 600 breast cancer survivors, as well as noted medical experts.  Under her direction, SNI also launched two successful community outreach programs implemented through the local chapters - "The Gift for Life Block Walk" and "The Pink Ribbon Awareness Project".  She also created SNI's branding campaign "Stop the Silence", to address the African American community's longstanding problem of not discussing cancer and other life-threatening health concerns.  SNI chapters are also involved in health advocacy initiatives at the state and federal level.

As national spokesperson for Sisters Network, Inc., Ms. Jackson has been featured in numerous national and local media, including an HBO special on cancer and several breast cancer-related books, and has received various political and corporate honors, most recently Lifetime TV 's Breast Cancer Hero.