Uncrowned Community Builders

Marcella D. Jones-Penn is a Buffalo native. In 1987 she graduated from McKinley High School and later attended Erie Community College. She is married and the proud mother of three children.

Ms. Jones-Penn started her fashion designing career at the age of 12 when she would watch her mother (Charlene Clark) design wedding gowns in their home. At the age of 15 she joined a designing organization called Fabrica Designs, were she received a Certified Acknowledgement of Recognition from James W. Pitts. While still at a young age she had many opportunities to travel overseas for her fashion designs, but was too young to leave home and school. In 1992, she received the Buffalo's Best Designer award.

Ms. Jones-Penn is CEO of Pious Designs by MJP which is her own line of clothing. She is a member of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). Over the years she has worked hard to bring the world of fashion to Buffalo by sponsoring fashion shows in the city that feature her line of clothes. These shows also provide venues for local talent to display their art forms.

In addition to designing, Ms. Jones-Penn is working to open a community center on the North East Side of Buffalo which will offer children job readiness training, life training, computers, music, and art. Each day she looks forward to other new challenges and opportunities that involve continued improvement for the lives of children and her designing career.