“Keep creating, no matter what. So, use what you do in your personal time make it structured and professional, because it will translate to a career that’s awesome like this.”
Akai Shelise Jones is the Visual Digital Media Director for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, where she blends creativity with purpose to tell powerful stories of change.
About
As the Visual Digital Media Director for the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, Akai Shelise Jones is a one-woman creative powerhouse managing storytelling, strategy, and communications across the entire state. With a background in foster care social work, Akai brings deep compassion to her role showcasing the humanity and potential in the youth and staff who make up DJJ.
Her days are anything but predictable. From documenting community graduations and capturing employee morale moments, to managing a full website migration and crafting digital campaigns, Akai does it all. She’s the creative force behind impactful internal and public-facing content, including the agency’s social media presence.
But her work goes beyond design it’s about visibility. “Getting the right stories out,” she says, especially those of staff who’ve served for decades or young people ready to transform their lives, is the heart of her mission. One of her most meaningful projects, a video following a formerly incarcerated teen touring South Carolina State University, earned thousands of views and even more community impact.
Akai’s advice to emerging creatives? Be bold, job shadow, and structure your personal creativity into professional frameworks. She urges young professionals to look past job titles, seek mentorship, and remember that every skill from TikTok videos to podcasting—has real-world value when refined with intention.
For Akai, this isn’t just a job, it’s purpose-driven communication. And in her lens, every youth deserves a new narrative.
