Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Jackson.
Charlotte, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
During the 48 years that I have lived in the North Channel area, I have come to be known as someone who has a natural gift for connecting people. I have friends from back in the junior high days they referred to me as a nerd with a calendar. I’ve always been a person that when I’m in a meeting will be taking notes about everybody who is there and what their contributions to the group are. The fact that I’ve never met a stranger is an added blessing. For example, I will meet somebody and find out that they are an electrician who owns a business. Months down the road someone will ask me if I know of an electrician and almost automatically that person’s name that I met several months ago will pop into my head.
I’ve always had the ability to remember those who are gifted and want to use their gifts to serve others. Over the years, being a single mother has been a true blessing in many ways. Because I had to humble myself and be able to ask for help when needed, it has been very easy for me to go back and be a blessing to those organizations that helped me along the way. I’ve been able to refer others to those organizations for help and I’ve also been able to refer potential donors to those nonprofits.
After having worked for 22 years at a local community college and loving the job that I had, I recently changed not only my employer but also the type of work. I went from being an event planner to working for the Constable as a program coordinator for the RUOk? Senior Program. And once again being able to remember the different resources that have crossed my path has come in as a very valuable gift. Now when senior adults express a need during our weekly phone calls, I am able to connect them with an organization who can meet their needs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life is never easy, yet I have truly been blessed to be able to connect with people who care about others. I became a single mom when my children were very young, at the time of my divorce their ages were four years old, six years old and ten years old. Yet I had some amazing mentors who coached me through every type of situation that we faced. My oldest son, Christopher, never truly has had a relationship with his father. Due to mistakes after our divorce, he went to prison for over 20 years. Christopher became very attached to my second husband. Almost from day one, he was ready to fight anyone who tried to refer to him as a stepfather. The relationship that Christopher and his daddy have is very special. You see when I married the second time, I married outside of my race. You have to remember that in 1990 when we married, interracial marriages had only been legal for 23 years. The obstacles that my husband and I faced were not easy. When I found myself alone raising three children just six years later, I knew I had to really trust God and seek out positive people for my children to learn from.
Connecting DOTS – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
So basically, Connecting DOTS is all about connecting people. I am frequently telling people that in life we never have problems. We simply have opportunities to stretch our faith and build relationships. I have continued to work with many nonprofits as well as individuals helping them to make our community a better place. I truly believe that to be successful we must learn to live, work, worship and volunteer with a diverse group of people. I am truly proud that I am able to comfortably connect so that most people feel as though they’ve known me for a long time. I tell people that while I do have the company name, I don’t want to make money off of this gift. Often when I’ve done something to help someone, they try to pay me and instead, I always ask them to just make a donation to one of the local nonprofit that I’m connected to.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Often when I’ve done something to help someone, they try to pay me and instead, I always ask them to just make a donation to one of the local nonprofit that I’m connected to.
To me, success is defined by being able to look in the mirror at night and know that I have not intentionally hurt anyone and that I have made a difference in someone’s life.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832.896.1633
- Email: charlotte.jackson@yahoo.com
- Facebook: Facebook.com/Connectingdots
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