Plymouth Educational Center - Board of Directors Bio

Judith D. Jackson is the ninth president of the National Association of Black Social Workers. NABSW was founded in 1968 by a group of social workers and human service professionals to address the social welfare needs of Black people across the country. NABSW, comprised of people of African ancestry, is committed to enhancing the quality of life and empowering people of African ancestry through advocacy, human services, and research. Prior to becoming president, Ms. Jackson served in various other positions in the organization including National Vice President, Treasurer, National Conference Chair, as well as serving at the local level as past President of the Detroit Chapter.

Ms. Jackson was installed as the organization’s first female president in 2002. In her administration, she has focused the organization’s efforts in four areas: Family Preservation/Child Welfare, Youth Development, Health and Wellness and Civil Liberties. She also has continued to foster collaborative efforts with other like-minded organizations to address issues facing the black family and the black community.

Ms. Jackson is currently the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Detroit Youth Foundation. DYF is a 501 (c) 3 and public charities foundation located in Detroit, Michigan. DYF’s mission is to further effective community partnerships for positive youth development. She is the former Executive Direction of Franklin Wright Settlement, a private, nonprofit multi-service, human service organization.

She has a wealth of human services experience, policy development background, and over twenty years of successful nonprofit management combining strong management and quality service delivery.

Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University, and a Master of Social Work, Policy and Planning from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. She also has continuing education credits from the American Management Association, and has taken coursework toward an MBA from Lawrence Technological University.

Active in civic and community affairs, she is a graduate of Leadership Detroit; Board Treasurer of Plymouth Educational Charter School; member of the Family Independence Agency Task Force and Jim Casey Foundation Initiative on foster care transitional living; peer reviewer for the Council on Accreditation for Children, Youth and Families; served on the Michigan Council on Foundations program committee; is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; a former member of the Governor’s State Advisory Task Force on Family Preservation as well as other community and civic involvement.

Although Ms Jackson gives generously of her time and talents, she is also committed to her family and is the proud mother of son, Evan Clayton, and wife of Emerson DeVon Jackson. They reside in Southfield, Michigan and attend Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Detroit, Michigan.