About Us | JJJFoundation

Johnny Jackson Jr. Foundation is a public charity under the 501c3 Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for the residents of New Orleans through quality housing opportunities, blight removal, and youth development and senior citizen engagement programs. We seek to service all of the City of New Orleans. However, our immediate concentration will consist of areas represented by Johnny Jackson Jr. for more than 22 years, Desire/Florida, Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East.

Johnny Jackson Jr. & Family

LEARN MORE

Keeping his legacy alive. Conceive! Believe! Achieve!

HISTORY

Johnny Jackson Jr. was an American politician. Jackson served as New Orleans City Councilman, from 1986 to 1994.

Johnny Jackson Jr. was born September 19, 1943 at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, LA. He was the oldest son of Josephine Brown Jackson and Johnny Jackson, Sr. He graduated from George W. Carver Senior High in 1961. He earned his bachelor degree from Southern University at New Orleans in 1965 and his master’s degree in Social Work from Tulane University in 1980.

In 1968, he became director of the Desire Community Center. He was the center’s leader during the 1970 standoff between New Orleans police and members of the Black Panther Party, who used the center to offer breakfast, mentoring, and tutoring programs for area youth.

From there, leaders of the political organization SOUL recruited him to run for the Louisiana State Legislature. When elected to represent District 101 in 1971, he was the Legislature’s third African-American member. Soon after his election, Johnny became the New Orleans delegation’s floor leader and he was a founding member of the state’s Legislative Black Caucus. He served on the Louisiana State Legislature for 14 years. In 1986, Johnny Jackson was elected to the New Orleans City Council where he served for 8 years (two terms) due to term limitations.

On the city council, Johnny headed the housing committee.

He also drafted legislation aimed at ensuring equal treatment of the city’s gay and lesbian communities.

Johnny was a board member of Total Community Action Inc., New Orleans East Economic Development Foundation, Desire-Florida Area Community Council, Development Association of Wards and Neighborhoods, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, WWOZ, and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

He was married to Ara Jean Parker and together had children Kevin, Jeanne, Johnann, Kenyatta and Johnny Jahi. They adopted Samantha Spears and raised a host of other children.

Jackson died on January 24, 2018.

MISSION

Enhancing the quality of life for the residents of New Orleans through supporting clean and safe neighborhoods, and fostering youth and senior citizens programs

Purpose

Form collaborative partnerships with other Organizations, Businesses and Churches to serve the social needs of residents;
Develop parks, playgrounds and youth centers.
Provide mentoring, scholarships, internships and stipends opportunities for youths;
Encourage all levels of government to provide services, incentives and improvements to stimulate the housing revitalization process;

Disseminate information concerning housing and community improvement programs;
Provide technical assistance in housing acquisitions;
Ensure communication between residents of the city, state, and federal government and financial institutions to promote cooperative efforts to prevent neighborhood deterioration;
Remove blight by purchasing/renovating/rebuilding properties and offering them back to the community for sale or lease;