Page 55 - BusinessWest April 27, 2026

Jamillah Joy
Medina Nova
Community Relations
Coordinator, Springfield City
Library: Age 35
Hers is a career built “at the intersection of public
service, entrepreneurship, and community-cen-
tered storytelling.”
That’s how Ellen Williams, director of Community
Engagement and Education at the Springfield-based
nonprofit Learning for Better, summed up Jamillah Joy
Medina Nova, as she nominated her for the 40 Under
Forty award.
And she’s right on every score.
Indeed, as Community Relations coordinator at the
Springfield City Library, Medina Nova leads marketing and
community relations efforts that strengthen the library’s
visibility, relevance, and partnerships across the city. She
also supports outreach and relationship building across
neighborhood events and community touch points, helping
residents connect with library services and resources.
It’s a job that blends what she calls her ‘favorite things.’
“That includes community involvement, helping young
people, and my marketing background, so it’s a perfect
fit,” said Medina Nova, who joined the library staff in 2019
and has led initiatives such as the recent drive to secure
10,000 library card signups.
But she’s also an entrepreneur — the founder of LMN
Creative, a marketing and branding consulting firm, and the
owner of Jamillah Joy Designs, which provides graphic design
services, especially to women-owned and BIPOC-owned small
businesses.
With LMN Creative, she specializes in helping clients
show up on social media — and generate revenue on those
platforms.
“I have big plans for a studio in the future, but right now,
I’m doing mostly consulting, working behind the scenes
to help clients,” said Medina Nova, a graduate of EforAll’s
cohort program and the Sphere Northampton’s accelerator
program, adding that her portfolio includes several hair
salons, wellness studios, and other small businesses.
All this means she’s quite busy, but she
finds time to get involved in the community,
especially with efforts to support young people,
women, and the arts. She is co-troop leader
with Girl Scouts of the USA and serves as
a board member of the Drama Studio,
supporting access to theater and arts
education for area children and families.
She also volunteers with agencies such as
Girls Inc. of the Valley, the YWCA, and
Give Kids the World Village.
She also enjoys spending time with her
4-year-old daughter, Luna, “the light of my
life,” and serving as an inspiration to her
and many others.
“I want to teach my daughter that
there are many buckets that can be filled
— you just have to appropriate your time
properly,” she explained. “This is the city
that raised me, so I want to give back
in any way I can.”
—George O’Brien
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The Springfield Library
Foundation and the Springfield
City Library proudly celebrate
Jamillah Medina Nova,
Community Relation Coordinator,
on being named a 40 Under Forty
honoree.
Thanks for all you do to promote
the library by making its presence
known in the community! It is
truly a pleasure to collaborate
with you.
Congrats to all 40 Under Forty
recipients!
Photo Credit: Bob Zemba, Simple Truth Imaging
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Springfield City Library
220 State Street,
Springfield, MA 01103
www.springfieldlibrary.org
Business W est 2026
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