There is more to Mr. Andrew R. Jackson than most people know. In fact most people are not aware that his tremendous zeal to serve others, in the role of community activist, can only be compared to his devotion to his wife, family as well as his career as a former Navy Serviceman. His proud service to his Country as a Naval Radioman cultivated his gift of communication and promoted his endowment of loyalty.
His community activism is spurred by his hope that whatever community endeavor or cause he champions will serve to fill a need that would not otherwise be addressed. Andrew neither needs to be asked or congealed to step up to the plate to get involved. He considers what he does as a small part of the big picture in making his community and the City of Virginia Beach better. Whether it entails mentoring or being what some call a “life coach”; Andrew receives such great satisfaction in giving advice to young men before they get into trouble; before they make the unwise decision to drop out of school or get involved in things that will put them on the wrong path. He has been invited to speak to several youth groups and has spoken at several other related events as well.
Many of you may have watched his quest for a City Council seat during his campaign in 2008 as he was extremely committed as well as focused while vigorously campaigning his way around the city; crossing racial, ethnic and cultural lines with relative ease.
This ability to blend with people didn’t come easily and occasionally he will speak about his childhood journey of being a young boy who grew up without a father in a very tough public housing area of Cleveland, Ohio. He denotes himself as the ”kid that stuttered so badly that he could barely complete a sentence.” His story of his struggling mother that sent all of her four children out of the neighborhood to Parochial Schools and later to the best Catholic High School in the area speaks as to why he has an unwavering commitment and compassion for those who may not have been as fortunate as he.
(more…)
Share on Facebook