‘1 in 5’ Season 2 Episode 4: Catching up with Drayton Jackson

Drayton Jackson | December 1, 2022 | Aspen Postsecondary Success for Parents

Drayton Jackson experienced homelessness for almost 20 years. Today, Drayton utilizes his lived experience to advocate for others in a similar position—but it wasn’t always easy adjusting to having a seat at the table. Drayton, now the father of eight, is setting boundaries and goals for himself to achieve a healthy work-life balance. Along with running two foundations and being a community leader, Drayton continues to work towards his educational goals of earning a college degree.

Listen

You can read the episode transcript here.

Resources

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity.

The Foundation for Homeless & Poverty Management helps people and families in Kitsap County who are surviving homelessness to get back on their feet and thrive through education and support

Drayton is the co-chair of Governor Jay Inslee’s Poverty Reduction Work Group, which works with a diverse group of experts, advocates and citizens to dismantle poverty in Washington.

Student Parent Stories

Related Posts

Graphic showing Yoslin Amaya Hernandez against the blue arc of Ascend's brand. Left of her is a photo of her with her daughter, and to her right is a photo of her at a policy meeting.
As a former student parent and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor, I have been provided a myriad of platforms to elevate the student parent experience, and I a...
BlogApril 8, 2024
Graphic with text that says "Announcing the 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners" and features Ascend's 2023 Parent Advisors against a blue backdrop.
Today, Ascend is excited to announce our 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners, six organizations and institutions from across the country wh...
Press ReleasesJanuary 23, 2024
Graphic featuring a photo of Michaela Martin, Yolanda Johnson-Peterkin, Ariel Ventura-Lazo, and Dr. Daria Willis.
An episode of firsts! Our first live episode recorded at the inaugural Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, CO in front of an audience of student...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 27, 2023
Graphic showing a student's hand holding a graduation cap against a blue background.
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute announced that four community colleges from across the United States have been selected as partners to its Postse...
Press ReleasesOctober 3, 2023
Group photo of Ascend Parent Advisors standing outside in Aspen, Colorado with their arms outstretched upward.
Snapshots from the 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 2, 2023
Graphic featuring headshot photos of Dr. Deana Around Him, Julian Thompson, and David Croom.
What does college success look like for Black and Native student parents? This podcast episode sheds light on student parents’ and administrators’...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsSeptember 12, 2023
Ascend at the Aspen Institute is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund, which will provide financial resources and...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsJuly 20, 2023
A collection of different photos featuring Christian Ortiz, his daughter, and his mother
Reflections on the experiences, challenges, and joys that shape the life of student father and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor Christian Ortiz.
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsJune 16, 2023
Cover of the digital chartbook, "We Are Here Too: Who Are the 1 Million Fathers in College?". A student father in a graduation cap and gown is seated with his son and daughter, smiling.
Among the one in five postsecondary students who are parents, there are close to 1.1 million student fathers. This chartbook synthesizes the available...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsJune 16, 2023
Cover of the digital chartbook, "We Are Here Too: Who Are the 1 Million Fathers in College?". A student father in a graduation cap and gown is seated with his son and daughter, smiling.
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) released the second season of “1 in 5,” its highly rated podcast that explores the multifaceted live...
Press ReleasesJune 16, 2023
A photo of students and their children at Santa Fe Community College
On May 9, members of the Ascend team had the opportunity to visit Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico. Here are three takeaways from our site vis...
Ascend NetworkJune 14, 2023
In an Inside Higher Ed article, David Croom and Generation Hope provide important perspective into why the student parent population is important for ...
Media MentionsMay 9, 2023
Photo of student parent Waukecha Wilkerson with her family at her graduation ceremony.
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute (Ascend) released the second season of “1 in 5,” its highly rated podcast that explores the multifaceted live...
Press ReleasesMay 3, 2023
Photo of Isis Patterson and her family
Growing up, Isis Patterson and her family were constantly operating in survival mode. School offered her the safety and security she lacked at home, s...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsApril 25, 2023
1 in 5 Student Parent Podcast
As a child of immigrants, Lourdes saw the efforts her hard-working parents made to give her a memorable childhood, and how they always stressed the im...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsApril 17, 2023