Upcoming JCO Events
"A Black Girl and Her Braids" Book Tour!
Jaylene is going on tour! Join her at five locations across the country for joyful launch events celebrating the release of her children's picture book, A Black Girl and Her Braids! She'll read the book aloud, sign copies, and pose for photos with attendees! Books can be purchased ahead of time through the respective bookstores/booksellers, or purchased on-site at the events.
EXCITING NEWS: Jaylene has secured haircare brand sponsorships from six Black-woman owned businesses! Gift bags with products from selected brands will be available at each event while supplies last.
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Book Tour Schedule:
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Sunday, January 11, 12PM
Barnes & Noble, Philadelphia, PA
Haircare Sponsor: Dosso Beauty
Tickets: RSVP not needed
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Tuesday, January 13, 6:30PM
Harlem School of the Arts, New York, NY
Bookseller: Café con Libros
Haircare Sponsors: 4U by Tia, Magic Fingers Institute, Dosso Beauty
Tickets: Purchase here!
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Saturday, January 17, 11AM
Mahogany Books, Oxon Hill, MD
Haircare Sponsors: PATTERN, 4U by Tia, Dosso Beauty
Tickets: Purchase here!
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Saturday, January 24, 2PM
Malik Books, Culver City, CA
Haircare Sponsors: Donna's Recipe, 4U by Tia, Dosso Beauty
Tickets: RSVP website coming soon!
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Sunday, February 1, 11AM
Brave + Kind, Decatur, GA
Haircare Sponsors: Taliah Waajid, 4U by Tia, Dosso Beauty
Tickets: Purchase here!
1/6/26 - "A Black Girl and Her Braids" Picture Book!
Jaylene has signed a deal with Penguin Random House to publish the children's picture book, A Black Girl and Her Braids, based on her viral poem of the same name! It will be released on January 6, 2026 on the Penguin Workshop imprint. Her editor at Penguin Random House is Tyiana Combs. Her agent is Jenniea Carter at New Leaf Literary Agency. Her illustrator is Brittney Bond.
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Pre-order "A Black Girl and Her Braids" NOW by clicking here!
Ongoing: Albie's Elevator!
Jaylene is currently a Series Regular in a new PBS kid's show called, "Albie's Elevator!"
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This is an original tv show for preschoolers, brought to you by WHYY, Philadelphia's PBS affiliate! Each half-hour episode follows the adventures of self-appointed elevator operator, Albie, as she navigates her big feelings with the help of her grown-up neighbors. The series explores, social-emotional learning through an arts lens, as Albie meets Philadelphia based performers, visual artists, musicians, and more who share how they deal with big feelings, and the twists and turns of their own creative processes. Jaylene is playing Rosie, the manager in Albie's apartment building! She does so alongside her friend, and #PoppaPank co-host, Justin Jain!
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"Albie's Elevator" airs on WHYY-TV Channel 12 in the Philadelphia region, but you can also watch live via the WHYY livestream channel if you are not in the area. The show airs at 7AM and 9:30AM, Monday through Friday. You can also watch on the WHYYKids YouTube channel here. Each episode is made up of two "Stories" and each Story is uploaded to YouTube. You can watch all of Jaylene's Stories right here on her website by clicking here! Here is a list of all the episodes in which she appears:
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Season 1:
Blueberry Kiwi Upside Down Carrot Cake
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Season 2:
DJ T.Bitz No Rules Disco (ft. DJ Diamond Kuts)
Ongoing: #PoppaPank Podcast
Philly-based, multi-hyphenated, and award-winning actors Jaylene Clark Owens and Justin Jain take on all things Arts & Culture in this joy-forward and ever hilarious variety podcast. From current events, to childhood memories, #PoppaPank centers and uplifts BIPOC voices in the performing and visual arts. Their occasional Pop-in with #PoppaPank segments feature interviews with various industry professionals from Broadway & Hollywood stars to Regional Theatre designers & technicians.
Jaylene is a powerful Black spoken word poet and playwright. Justin is a fierce Filipino director and deviser. Every episode centers on a different theme, but all roads point back to the Arts and bringing a pop of pink into a world that can be very grey. Whether they’re trying to do a freestyle rap, or getting artistic advice from a guest, these two are gonna have a good time! Grab your Poppa Drank and get ready for some shenanigans as Jaylene and Justin get tickled pink on every episode of #PoppaPank.
Past guests have included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames, theatre, film, and TV veteran Brian Anthony Wilson, actor Carl Clemons-Hopkins of the HBO show Hacks, and Daveed Diggs, of Broadway sensation Hamilton and TNT TV show, Snowpiercer!
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Listen to the podcast on Spotify here! It is also available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the episodes live on YouTube or Facebook!
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Upcoming live episodes:
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TBD