Summerhill

Stakeholder Spotlight: Ms. Mattie Ansley Jackson (10 MAY 2004)

Nov 19, 2006

If a person's eyes are the windows to their soul, then Mattie Jackson's deep brown eyes show a soul that's filled with love, peace, joy and passion for helping others. At a press conference on Wednesday, May 5, the City of Atlanta, the Coca-Cola Company and Samsung announced Mattie Jackson along with 39 other community leaders as the 2004 Southeast Region Olympic Torchbearers.

The honor is given to the "best of humanity," and those who know or have a chance to talk to Mattie Jackson would agree that she embodies this virtue. A longtime community leader, Mattie Jackson was born and raised in the Summerhill neighborhood of Atlanta where she is still a resident. "I began volunteering when I was 15 years old, I used to visit and help the senior citizens in my neighborhood," said Mrs. Jackson.

Mrs. Jackson is also a strong advocate for people who live in impoverished conditions. She consistently participates in the Poor People's Day March and she is currently working to organize a bus trip to Washington D.C. for the 2004 Poor People's Day March in September. As a City-selected honoree, Mrs. Jackson is no stranger to City Hall or the Olympic Games. She began volunteering in City Government under Mayor Sam Massell and has campaigned with and volunteered for all the of the subsequent Mayors. Mrs. Jackson is also a board member of several organizations, including the Summerhill Neighborhood Inc. (of which she is a founder), the Imperial Welcome House for the Homeless and the Atlanta Urban League. In 1991 she became a member of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and secured funding for over 150 Summerhill residents to receive job training for the 1996 Olympics.

A true mover and shaker, Mrs. Jackson maintains a regular exercise program and is often complimented on how "young" she looks. Mrs. Jackson says, "You can let your years go up but you don't have to let your body go down." Interestingly enough, this will be Mrs. Jackson's third time carrying the Olympic torch and she hopes they give her the same number this year--410.

http://apps.atlantaga.gov/deptmayor/CityNewsbytes/archives/051004.htm