Liz Jackson-Simpson
Daughter of San Francisco, 60's –A Born Disruptor and Change Agent
Born in the heart of the counterculture movement on Haight and Ashbury in the 1960s, I emerged as the daughter of parents deeply immersed in the social movements and community development initiatives of the era. Raised by a maintenance engineer father, who could fix anything with duct tape and a coat hanger, and a Renaissance woman mother who served on the human rights commission, led the PTA, launched community groups, and taught catechism, I learned the power of resilience and resourcefulness from an early age.
Growing up in a vibrant yet economically challenging environment, I didn't realize the extent of our financial struggles until much later. My parents instilled in me a sense of self-sufficiency and independence that became my guiding principles. Navigating my way as the only African-American in many spaces in San Francisco, from school to work and affinity groups, became second nature. The city's diverse atmosphere made it seem ordinary, and I embraced it as part of the rich tapestry that is San Francisco.
Attending one of the top high schools in the country, I graduated a year early to pursue a degree in Industrial Design with honors. Self-funding my college journey through work in the NGO sector, I managed and developed workforce development opportunities for disenfranchised youth and marginalized community members.
My affinity for young people in the juvenile justice system ignited during the '80s, witnessing the harsh reality of those caught up in selling drugs to survive. Recognizing their potential and driven by the belief that with the right resources they could excel, I dedicated my career to creating innovative systems that break the cycle of oppression.
Over the past 40 years, I've been blessed to disrupt systems of oppression, creating innovative pathways for marginalized community members to not just survive but thrive. My philosophy remains rooted in the transformative power of education and resources, turning individuals who were once caught in the cycle into captains of industry. It's been a journey of resilience, activism, and the unwavering belief that every person, given the right tools, can redefine their narrative.