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Shawon Jackson
Founder and CEO, Vocal Justice
Shawon Jackson (he/him) is the Founder and CEO of Vocal Justice, an organization dedicated to empowering Black and Brown youth through social justice education and public speaking. His work focuses on preparing young leaders to engage in advocacy and develop critical communication skills necessary for social change.
Background and Education
Shawon Jackson is a graduate of Princeton University and holds an MBA from Stanford University. His educational journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding social injustices, particularly as he minored in African-American studies during his time at Princeton. This academic background inspired him to create Vocal Justice, aiming to integrate social justice education into the learning experiences of young people.13
Vocal Justice
Founded with the mission to elevate the voices of undervalued youth, Vocal Justice engages participants in a justice-oriented public speaking program. The organization seeks to equip students with the tools needed for effective advocacy, focusing on issues such as voting rights and civil rights.14 Under Shawon's leadership, Vocal Justice has expanded its reach significantly, training teachers across the United States to implement its programs in schools, thereby impacting hundreds of students annually.12
Key Initiatives
- Public Speaking Programs: These programs are designed to help young people articulate their thoughts on social issues and advocate for change.
- Teacher Training: Vocal Justice trains educators to facilitate these programs, aiming to scale its impact from 29 teachers to 60 in the upcoming year.1
- Community Engagement: Shawon emphasizes building a community of supporters to enhance the organization's outreach and effectiveness.2
Personal Interests
Outside of his professional endeavors, Shawon enjoys dancing (particularly hip-hop and bachata) and has a penchant for Thai food. He also takes pleasure in photography, often seeking the perfect lighting for capturing moments with friends.2
Shawon Jackson's leadership at Vocal Justice reflects his commitment to fostering a generation of socially conscious leaders capable of advocating for equity and justice in their communities.
Highlights
Apply to be my boss! We're building our Vocal Justice Board of Directors, and I'm excited for at least three reasons:
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Two seats are for youth leaders: one under 18 and one under 22. Two members of our Youth Advisory Council agreed to take on these roles, and they're stellar. One had the courage to talk to a teacher about why reading the n-word aloud in class wasn't appropriate. The other wrote a powerful piece featured in The Nation called, "Black Trauma is Not a Lesson".
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This isn't a fundraising Board. To be inclusive, not even one seat is reserved for someone who can give or get a certain amount. We debated this for awhile, as we know funding is critical to our work. I'm hopeful we can find other ways to fundraise, though, so that our Board can focus on governance and strategy.
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Our Youth Advisory Council is core to the selection process. They helped define our selection criteria and application questions (my favorite: "Who are you?"). And no one can join our Board without a majority vote from our YAC.
We're also recruiting for our Advisory Board for folks who want to advise on and support more tactical projects on an ad hoc basis.
For both groups, we want people passionate about youth power, liberation, education, storytelling, and community. We want people who bring joy and care to their work. And perhaps most importantly, we want people who are eager to make change not just for young people, but with them. Please apply and/or spread the word.
Applications are due by 12PM PT on Wednesday, April 26th.
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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