Emanuel Jackson Jr. (center), founder of the EJS Project, is surrounded by summer camp students. He launched the youth development nonprofit in 2014 to provide teens with academic support, mental health counseling and career training, including paid internships. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Rich Pollack
In the midst of tough times, Emanuel Jackson Jr. found his life’s mission.
Dealing with medical issues, having just lost a beloved parent and having a newborn daughter weighed heavy on Jackson, who was trying to get by on just $729 a month in disability payments.
Still, Jackson moved forward with his dream of creating a nonprofit organization that empowered teens in ways that went beyond traditional mentoring programs.
“To me, it felt like a calling,” said Jackson, who named his program the EJS Project, after his late father and his guiding light, Emanuel Jackson Sr.
Jackson’s vision led to the creation in 2014 of a south Palm Beach County organization that has served thousands of teens and that is now receiving national recognition as a vital youth engagement program.
That recognition increased in July when Jackson was in Denver to be presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Award at the National Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner.
It is a big deal.
In recognizing Jackson, the organization of educators highlighted the broad scope of his program and its impact not just on the teens but on the community.
“For over a decade Jackson’s EJS Project has provided 5,000 Palm Beach County teens with academic tutoring, workshops that provide mental health support, and career prep that includes paid internships,” according to the announcement of the award on the NEA website. “EJS not only gives young people a sense of worth, but also strategies for making a positive impact on the future of those around them.”
The dinner was part of the organization’s annual massive NEA Representative Assembly, which draws about 6,000 to 7,000 delegates from across the country.
“I felt like I met every one of them,” said Jackson, who knew he was receiving the award but was surprised by how many people attended the ceremony.
Those who are familiar with Jackson and with the EJS Project are not surprised at all by the recognition he and the program are getting.
Jackson will tell you that there are several ways the organization gives kids a leg up — from helping them improve their grades to helping them prepare for college or whatever their futures hold.
Perhaps the result he is most proud of is helping the teens boost their confidence so they can achieve more than they might think they can.
“Show kids you love them, show kids you care and challenge them, and the result will be a kid who feels they’re capable of achieving their dreams and showing up as the best version of themselves moving forward,” he said.
A key ingredient to that, says Jackson, who grew up in Delray Beach, is providing a safe space for the teens where they can talk openly among themselves and always feel comfortable.
“Every day when we pick kids up from school, they get a hug and are asked how their day was,” he said. “We often respond to what might be lacking because they don’t always know what they’re missing but we do.”
Jackson initially meets with teens and their parents before they enter the program, which is capped at about 100 enrolled teens at a time.
Teens are asked what they hope to achieve and goals are set. The kids are then held accountable for making sure they follow through on their efforts to achieve those goals. They could be asked to leave the program if they aren’t actively taking steps to meet their goals.
“By the time our kids get to college, they’re more focused,” Jackson said.
Fairness and consistency are the secret formula to working with the teens, he said.
While Jackson is proud of the EJS achievements, he is always looking forward to making a greater impact and asking what more can be done for the kids and the program.
He’s also hoping to expand to meet demand.
“When parents and teachers see the maturity and confidence boost of our students, they want other kids to benefit,” he said.
The EJS Foundation depends on the community so it can provide services to teens and accepts donations from individuals and foundations. It also depends on fundraising events.
Site visits — EJS is currently housed at 3300 S. Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach — are always encouraged and welcome.
To learn more, visit ejsproject.org.
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