'1 in 5' Episode 5: Meet Drayton Jackson - Ascend at the Aspen Institute

Drayton Jackson is the father of six daughters and two sons and currently resides with his wife in Kitsap County, Washington. He’s the founder of the Family Day Foundation, which takes a two-generation approach to provide families with low incomes or that are experiencing homelessness an opportunity to attend family-oriented events that they otherwise could not afford.

After growing up in poverty and more than a decade of living in homelessness in New York City and Washington state, Drayton uses his story to uplift those who are going through the same struggles he had.

In November of 2019, Drayton was elected to serve on the Central Kitsap School District Board of Directors. He is the first African American person to serve in that position for the school district.

Currently, Drayton sits as vice-chair of the Steering Committee for Governor Jay Inslee’s Poverty Reduction Workgroup in Washington state under the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Prior to this role, Drayton served as vice-chair of the Head Start Association’s parent-run Policy Council and was chosen to be a Parent Ambassador with the Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Programs (ECEAP).

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NOTE: This episode contains a reference to suicide.

You can read the episode transcript here.

Resources

Family Day Foundation – The Family Day Foundation takes a two generation approach to provide families with low incomes, or that are experiencing homelessness, an opportunity to attend family oriented events that they otherwise couldn’t afford in the Bremerton, Washington area.

Headstart is a national program that helps young children from low-income families prepare to succeed in school through local programs.

Governor Inslee’s Poverty Reduction Work Group – Drayton Jackson is co-chair of the steering committee for Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s Poverty Reduction Work Group (PRWG). Find out more about their 2-generation approach to poverty reduction, as well as their “10-year plan to Reduce Poverty & Inequality.”