Today we’d like to introduce you to Ta’Hari Jackson.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Where do I start. Growing up in Los Angeles, like many; my family and I had it rough. My mother did everything in her power to keep our heads above water but none the less we were clueless happy kids, content with the basics of a warm meal and togetherness. Unfortunately, lack of stability quickly tore my family apart and all nine of my brothers and sisters got separated across the county. From foster home to group home, county to county, city to city I bounced around effortlessly and at the will of the county. After many failed attempts of reunification, I personally made the decision to give up on that possibility and focus on myself, my dreams, and my happiness. During my experience in the system, I met so many kids from so many backgrounds: that share the same struggle, the same pain, and that is to be wanted.
As I matured, I realized more and more that the system is failing us and no one is doing anything about it. The closer I got to eighteen the more I seen my peers graduate to nothing. They would leave out those doors excited for adulthood but not even nearly ready for adulthood and the independence it requires. I had to start digging around and doing homework myself and what I realized is that for the last twenty or thirty years the outcome statistics of youth leaving the system haven’t changed. My brothers and sisters were aging out and were expected to have an apartment and a job to help keep that apartment. Fortunately for me, I aged out at the right time when the AB12 law had come into play. A lot of kids didn’t have that same opportunity, so for me I wanted to capitalize on golden opportunity that was CHANCE.
Eighteen through twenty-one, I experienced my first taste of adversity. I had graduated from a transitional program in Orange County and had savings of almost twenty grand. I was set for success upon leaving but with the lack of self-discipline and direction I quickly found myself back at square one. Now, even worse than before I found myself homeless searching for a purpose. In my darkest times, I have gained the most experience. My homeless lasted for almost two years, and in that two years I learned a lot about character, mine and those who I had called a friend. I will go more in-depth about the struggle of being homeless for the next question but that period of time I really searched and found “ME”. Determined to not give up I created a go fund me page (see here https://www.gofundme.com/taharistrong) to gather up some funds for the next step in my adulthood: my very own apartment. Within three weeks, I received the funds to solidify my apartment and a job to keep that roof. Let it be known that without Doing Good Works I wouldn’t be the man I am today. DGW has give me happiness, a second home, and a family all while simply being lovable human beings. Doing Good Works is a social enterprise that sells promotional products to serve the underserved population of youth exiting the system. I had the pleasure of going out into the community to tell them about the impact they could make through purchases they were already making.
To my surprise, I found out that many people out in the community have heard of the term “fosteryouth” but were unaware of the horrific outcomes we face everyday. It seemed like every meeting I had the more and more people in the community were shocked and alarmed, and at the same time wanted to act to make a difference. It was clear, my purpose was to bring awareness and dialogue to a situation well deserving. I started going out into the community on my own to tell people about my experience in the system and what I thought could be done differently. More and more, foster driven companies from Orange County and LA wanted to learn more. And so the race began, the race to end name calling because we are not Foster Youth; we are just youth in foster care.
We are not underprivileged, cause no one is privileged because they have both parents growing up, and we are not at-risk youth, we are strong and resilient ready to take on the world. It is my honor to be an ambassador for my brothers and sisters all over the world who are in facilities as opposed to homes getting treated by staff instead of mentors, brothers, and sisters. Also, I think it’s important for me to share my story for those who might have a similar background but need a little extra motivation to share their story too. During my time of advocating and showcasing I have motivated and moved crowds in the likes of Orange County Juvenile Justice System, CASA of Orange County, Extraordinary Families of Los Angeles and many more. I enjoy every opportunity I receive to enlighten those who wish to learn more about a community forgotten.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
By far lack of stability has definitely hurt me over the years. Other personal problems played a huge role in that too such as not knowing who I am and what my purpose is. When I was homeless I wasn’t couch surfing I was really sleeping on park benches and would ride the bus all night just have a roof over my head. It was an ugly yet humbling experience at the same time. Also, it gave me strength as I learned very quickly I was in this valley by myself. Shortly before being homeless, I was well connected with a prominent organization in Orange County that serves the foster community. I had reached out to them during my time of homelessness about sharing my “gofundme” page in hopes of gaining some more traffic since their doners compiled of community organizations and families who wanted to help the population of foster care. I was quickly turned down over the fear of doners wondering why I was homeless if they were graciously giving out donations, and so that question still remains. This made me furious but also it made me grow in a mature way. Reminding me of the cliche statement of “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
In my situation, I could’ve received that handout, moved on not learning from my mistakes. But because I had to fend for myself and really dig deep, I believe I came out a better man. I came out with a passion to tell the story of the untold because these companies and agencies are doing a poor job of telling our stories. It reminds me of Nate Howards ultimate speech “tell your story before they do”, which is so true. It’s like you walk in this building and see these pictures of all these kids in College sweaters when in reality almost every kid in the picture is struggling to find stable housing. I don’t think it’s fair; not only to the public but it’s not fair to the youth who are going through turmoil when it’s being marketed to the public like we’re off in college breaking the cycle. You see it all the time and it’s disgusting; I used to get so mad when people are clueless to the outcomes of youth in the system when the numbers haven’t changed for the last ten years. I believe that if it is predictable it is preventable, and we know the statistics of youth who graduate college, incarceration, homelessness, drug abuse, teen pregnancy and the list continues. Why are people clueless, because it’s being put in their face that youth in the system are aging out happy and pursuing their dreams. I choose to continue advocating, even at 25 because I feel like relating is most effective way to get someone to listen and act. I make music to inspire, poetry to move, and speak to create change. My mission is simple, rid the labels of Foster Youth, and move the dial on the drastic statistics on the outcomes of youth by simply raising awareness and started a dialogue.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
You know it’s funny, your sitting in 3rd grade and your teacher asks you want do you want to be when you grow up. I’m pretty sure back then my answer was something dilly like a lion or maybe something realistic but still over the top like being the president or an astronaut. Not to say that those titles are not possible because they most certainly are but let’s be honest, most of us end up at a nine to five desk job pushing paperwork. I’ve had dreams of becoming an actor or entertainer of the Tonight Show, but as you grow, you mature. I realized that God’s gift to me is the ability to communicate effectively. I see it in my music, I see it when I jump on a stage in front of a thousand people, it is clear my purpose is to move people. I specialize in moving any crowd no matter the size big or small, the crowd is left feeling moved motivated and compelled.
I have a passion for people and a knack for making people smile, which has leveraged me to stay engaged with community talks about changing the narrative on Foster Care and even raising money for nonprofit agencies. I’m known for having a natural gift of speaking, and so after many engagements comments like “your a natural” and “you’d make a wonderful MC” are often the feedback I hear. What sets me apart is simple I believe, I have a genuine passion for being on stage in front of people. I don’t think you can teach that, while there are tools that I could use to get better, some things you cant teach and thats natural talent. My energy is unmatched and my smile leaves a lasting impression on my audience. I’d like to have my own company that focuses on getting your message across because the number one fear of CEO’s is public speaking. At the moment inspiring others and happiness are my only focus and doing so, will guide me where I need to go.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t start over, only because I know my struggles have made me the man I am today and I wouldn’t change that for all the money in the world. I will say if there’s anything I learned or wish I had done differently, its to have a clear concise plan and follow through with it. When you don’t have a plan you find yourself with wasted times, next thing you know you’re in your thirties with a kid on the way and a job that you absolutely hate. You think about a time where you really wanted something and I bet you did everything in your power to obtain that. Why cant that same determination be applied for chasing happiness and our dreams? When I was little I dreamed of being an actor, but the fear of not making it into Hollywood quickly led me to chase something more realistic.
To this day I still wonder why I believed that field was unobtainable. You know I was always encouraged to chase my dreams, go after what I want and yet here I was doubting my talents. When humans don’t have the reminder that’s always on, we tend to forget. I think that somewhere in my childhood that burning desire to become an entertainer faded in the back of my mind with all my other wants and hopes that I just wasn’t chasing anymore. We should be teaching our selves to chase our dreams until we are living them as opposed to the just get a job because you have to pay the bills. Why can’t we do both? And so thats the lesson, never stop never settle. Do more of what truly makes you happy, and then do some more of whatever that is because you can never get enough.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ta.hari/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaHariStrong
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/hari_music
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