Donovan Jackson

Christian, Educator/Teacher, Foodie, Job-seeker, Parent, Student

Donovan Jackson was raised by his preaching mother and teaching grandmother where church and school were mandatory. A well-known rebel, he embraced an opposite path in life where he majored in bad decisions and choices. When he got tenured at Attica, he made great strides to shake off all he learned at the university of knuckleheads. At 33, he now spends his time at Attica mentoring at-risk youth, counseling his peers, and spreading his infectious smile to others. He is devoted to his wife of 9 years and their four daughters.

empowering and educating our youth to seize opportunities and use their potential for a better life and keep them out of "correctional facilities."

We've come to know simple truths about the reasons people break the law and become incarcerated, the same way we assess how or if they will recidivate. I think we as a society (America) should change the way we view the 2.2 million men and women who are locked up. If we think them capable of change and growth, the same way we know they could make bad decisions, then we can finally see them as humans. This one small step can change the environment that released felons live and work in. It might make you give employment opportunities to people who were incarcerated. Little steps can make our country a more forgiving place for those who've caused harm. Let's be honest, we've all done that.

I was in my mid-twenties when I could no longer hide from my own mental health illnesses. I overcame the family-built stigmas in place that made me feel ashamed of being depressed. I discovered that many people like me suffer in silence about our worsening illnesses because of social stigmas. I share my story whenever I can in the hope that people in pain will be motivated to seek help -- also that the very people who spread the stigma of not receiving help for mental health illness will see a better way. I believe that having a healthy mind is key to living our best life.

crocheting stuffed animals