[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 135 (Friday, August 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E840-E841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING LATAISHA JACKSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 12, 2022

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
tenacious and innovative woman, Representative Lataisha Jackson.
  Lataisha Jackson was born August 4, 1983, in Fort Ord, California. At 
birth, her young parents Ernest Jackson, Sr. and Jennette Jackson, and 
her only sibling Ernest Jackson, were stationed at former United States 
Army post on Monterey Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Most of the family's 
military life was in Berlin, Germany, and where her parents began 
instilling into her and her brother the importance of family, faith, 
and fortitude. The family moved to Como, Mississippi, after her father 
was honorably discharged form the army due to a service-connected 
injury. Representative Jackson recalls her mother and father's greatest 
exemplary measures of the importance of family, faith, and fortitude 
during this time. Rep. Jackson credits her strong faith and fortitude 
of her late father and her mother.
  She graduated from North Panola High School in 2001. After graduating 
high school, she attended Northwest Community College during the summer 
and then started Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL, in August. 
A month after starting college Rep. Jackson's father died at the age of 
37 from cancer. Jackson honored her father and his sacrifices by 
graduating form Alabama State University in 2005 with a B.S. in English 
Language Arts Education, and in 2007 with her Master's in Educational 
Leadership.
  Rep. Jackson's grandmother Elnora Lee Jackson, a longtime educator, 
encouraged her to teach. So, Jackson taught middle and high school 
students in Troy and Montgomery, AL. During her time in the classroom, 
she often reflected on educational inequities that she experienced as a 
student herself and as an educator. After working with the City 
Colleges of Chicago and the City of Chicago providing summer learning 
enrichment, Jackson decided to return to Mississippi and provide 
educational support services to students in rural communities to aid 
them in escaping poverty through educational opportunities. Her efforts 
began in 2009 with Back-to-School rallies. Then, in September 2010, she 
founded EDUCATE Social and Public Policy, Inc. with her brother, Ernest 
Jackson; Jessica Fitzhugh; Paige Dugger; Pedres Finley; and Alvin 
Jackson, Jr. As CEO of EDUCATE, Inc., she has led many efforts to 
provide after school, summer enrichment, college and career readiness 
opportunities, AAU Basketball, food and transportation security, and 
other community engagement opportunities.
  In 2013, Mississippi House of Representatives, District 11 seat was 
vacated by the death of former Representative Joe Gardner, Jackson ran 
a successful campaign while grieving the death of her maternal 
grandmother Bessie Eppenger. She was sworn into the Mississippi House 
of Representatives on April 26, 2013.
  She currently serves as the Vice Chair of Investigate State Offices 
and serves on Appropriations, Judiciary B, Universities and Colleges, 
Local and Private Legislation, and Public Property committees. After 
joining her colleagues in legislative efforts to enhance the quality of 
life for Mississippians, Representative Jackson realize how important 
it was for her to fulfill her childhood dream and become an attorney. 
So, Rep. Jackson enrolled in the summer of 2014 at the University of 
Mississippi School of Law and graduated in December 2017 with her juris 
doctor degree.
  In 2014, the National Foundation of Women Legislation recognized Rep. 
Jackson as an Elected Woman of Excellence, and she currently serves as 
the Mississippi State Director for the organization. In 2018, the 
American Council of Young Political Leaders chose her as a member of 
their seven-member delegation to travel to China and Taiwan, and to 
join a network of over 8,500 alumni in 128 countries and territories. 
Rep. Jackson tenure includes legislative effort to increase dignity for 
incarcerated women, infrastructure improvement and development 
specifically for low tax base communities, economic and workforce 
development, and education reform. She has collaborated with several 
advocates and organizations to elevate conversations and awareness of 
the needs of incarcerated women by providing a Hope Luncheon for 
Incarcerated Women in Central Correctional Facility in Pearl, MS, for 
the past four years. In 2021, she traveled to Ghana, then to Nigeria in 
2022 to encourage trade and business efforts between those in diaspora. 
Jackson is currently working with German leaders to consider 
Mississippi for German American industries.
  Rep. Jackson enjoys gleaning wisdom from her grandfather, Mack Holt, 
and being an orator while encouraging others through spoken words. She 
has used the power of words and faith during her commencement speeches 
at her alma maters Alabama State University in 2019 and North Panola 
High School, at several churches and events, and she looking to be in 
the commencement speaker for Northwest Community College's Summer 
Graduation on August 1, 2022.
  Rep. Jackson is the proud godmother of two amazingly gifted and 
talented godchildren- Cedquavious Hunter and Lauren Perry, that she 
loves dearly. She is an active member of Askew Grove M.B. Baptist 
Church in Sarah, MS. As a Beta Pi initiated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha 
Sorority Incorporated, she continues her service to all mankind as a 
member

[[Page E841]]

of Upsilon Iota Omega Chapter. Rep. Jackson is also a member of the 
Mississippi Delta Links, Incorporated.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
Representative Lataisha Jackson for her dedication to serving her 
community and this great state.

                          ____________________