Mark Jackson is a Portland native and Portland State University graduate whose commitment to educational equity, health equity, and social justice has shaped transformative work across the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years.
Drawing on an interdisciplinary background in sociology, communications, English, and Black studies, Jackson brings a systems-level perspective to understanding and addressing inequity across multiple sectors.
As co-founder and executive director of REAP Inc., he has spent more than three decades leading youth services and grassroots community organizing—strategically bridging the nonprofit and public sectors to create sustainable pathways for young people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Through this work, he has built deep expertise in organizational development, coalition building, community health, and transformative program design.
Jackson is known for his ability to advance systemic change while catalyzing institutional transformation within systems that serve communities of color. He has long positioned himself at the intersection of grassroots mobilization and policy engagement, serving for more than 20 years as a trusted advisor to local and state elected officials on educational equity, youth development, health outcomes, and public policy.
That advisory work extends to the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health & Science University, where he brings a critical lens to health disparities and their social determinants. He also oversees five youth advisory councils in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority—creating structured pathways for young people to directly influence the policies and programs that shape their lives.
Beyond youth empowerment, Jackson's work spans public policy, social justice advocacy, and faith-based initiatives. His approach to coalition building has forged durable partnerships across sectors—from grassroots organizations and government agencies to faith communities — united around shared goals of community health and equity.
Jackson currently serves on the Governor's Racial Justice Council – Education Committee, the Ballmer Institute community advisory board, and the Juvenile Justice Steering Committee. Through these roles and decades of community leadership, he continues to advance his vision of equitable, responsive systems that honor the dignity and potential of every person and community.