President and CEO, Regina G. Jackson has set the strategic direction for the East Oakland Youth Development Center's (EOYDC) national youth development model for over 25 years. Focused on character- based leadership, her platform of youth led initiatives have empowered thousands of young people to achieve lifelong academic and career success.
A global thought leader for youth development, Ms. Jackson is often called upon as a subject matter expert to deliver workshops, presentations and papers, both domestically and internationally. At the behest of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Ms. Jackson recently led two delegations of student ambassadors to China in support of President Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" and "100,000 Strong" Initiatives. In 2017, she was invited by NFL Super Bowl Champion, Marshawn Lynch to bring a smaller delegation of youth to a service mission to Haiti. In 2019, she led a Southwest Airline sponsored mission to Mexico City.
Since the beginning of her tenure, EOYDC's staff, Board of Directors, community leaders and clergy have described Ms. Jackson's leadership as "a stabilizing force for EOYDC's curriculum and a positive anchor for the challenges of the twenty-first century". Her successful strategies have tremendously benefited urban, multicultural and even international youth.
Ms. Jackson has been featured on ABC-TV World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Essence and Parenting Magazines. In 2024, she published Bestseller "Unleashed Potential"- How Youth Lead the Way to a Stronger Future.
Highlights
Education
University of San Francisco | Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters - honoris causa 2016
The Center For Leadership Innovation | 2013 – 2014
Harvard Business School | Certificate, Executive Education High Potentials Leadership Program 2009-2009
Coro Foundation | Graduate Fellowship in Public Affairs 1984-1985
University of California Berkeley | Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science 1981-1984
Bishop O’ Dowd High School | HS Diploma 1976-1980
Awards/Recognition
Women of Influence- Power 50, United States Black Chamber Inc. (USBC)
Street Renaming- Regina Jackson Way, City of Oakland
Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Biden,(Washington DC)
Community Youth Empowerment, Inner City Youth and Reentry Council of California
Level Up Award, Black Chamber of Commerce
Adinkrahene Oakland Legacy Award, Black Cultural Zone
Lifetime Achievement Award, PUSH Excel
Dick Gregory Hero Award, Issued by Adamika Village 2021
Ebony Power 100, Issued by Ebony Magazine 2021
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- Interdisciplinary Research Leader, “Mover and Shaker Award” 2020
MLK Justice Award, Allen Temple Baptist Church 2020
Sinkler Miller Medical Association “Trailblazer Award” 2019
Eastbay Women in Business, Non Profit Leader, Oakland Chamber of Commerce 2019
Community Service Award, NAACP 2018
Chair of Oakland Police Commission, Appointed by the Mayor and served as Chair for two terms, 2017-2020
NIKE Celebrates “Champion of Oakland” , Warrior Championship Parade Bus 2018
Strengthening Families Award, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. 2017
Community Leader Award, Leadership California, 2016
Youth Leader, The Talented 25, Sun Reporter 2016
Influential Educator Award, Youth Voices on China Awards, The 1990 Institute , 2015
Sabbatical Award, O2 Initiatives, to help great leaders burn brighter, 2015
Humanitarian Award, City of Oakland and Living Jazz, for working tirelessly to create change, 2015
“Think China” Delegation Leader, My Brother’s Keeper, (CUSEF) 2014
Angel Award, Take Wings Foundation, 2014
Community Voices Award, Oakland Local, 2014
Sankofa Knight Award, 2013
“Think China” Delegation Leader, 100,000 Strong, China US Exchange Foundation (CUSEF) 2013
Youth Empowerment Award, Church Gurls Rock, 2013
California Legislature’s “Woman of the Year” Award, California State Assembly District 16, 2012
Inaugural Unsung Hero Award, Golden State Warriors, 2012
Forever Green Award, Girls Scouts, 2012
Community Service Award, 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, 2012
Ella Hill Hutch Award, Black Women Organized for Political Action, 2012
Go To Bat Award, Oakland A’s, 2011
Champion for Youth, Black Expo, 2010
Fannie Lou Hamer Emerging Leader Award, University of California Berkeley, 2010
Unsung Hero Award, KQED, 2010
Hometown Hero Award, Comcast, 2010
Spotlight Award, Wells Fargo, 2010
Thomas J. Bradley Distinguished Citizen Award – Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, 2010
Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame for Education, Inductee, 2010
Powerful Difference Award, Pine Sol, 2009
Advocacy Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 2009
Humanitarian Award, Bishop O’Dowd Hall of Fame, 2008
Jefferson Award for Public Service, 2008
Unsung Hero Award, Jack and Jill of America, 2008
Community Leader of the Year Award, National Council of Negro Women, 1998
Essence Magazine, 1996
Parenting Magazine, 1995
Speaking Events
2025- Keynote Speaker Research and Science Leadership Symposium (RSLS) Foothill College Los Altos, CA
2024- Retreat Speaker (Tides Network)
2022- Natl Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
2022- NACOLE- National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
2021- Speaker "Safe Schools for All"- with CA State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
2021- Building Power Platforms (Generation Thrive- Warriors Foundation)
2020- United States Congressional Hearing on Men and Boys of Color
2019- National Forum for Black Public Administrators- Orlando, Florida
2019- Good Morning America (guest spot)
2018- Kaiser Permanente Community Health Summit | Advancing Health: Mind, Body, Community Panelist
2018- Brighter Beginnings “Reaching for the Stars” Gala Featured Speaker
2018- National Association for Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ)- Oklahoma City Chapter Conference Keynote Speaker “Humane Accountability”
2018- Leadership Oakland Role of Nonprofits in Community Panel Speaker
2018- Kaiser Permanente, Regional Mental Health and Wellness Forum “Building Resilience in Our Communities” Panelist
2018- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Board Trustee Meeting Presenter - New Jersey
2018- Oakland Athletics, Speaker Series - Non-Profit Organizations
2017- Third Annual Black 2 Cal Conference Black Girl Magic Panel
2017- TEDxUCDavis SF “Taking Risks to Transform” Featured Speaker – San Francisco
2017- Fossil Foundation | Board Trustee Meeting Presenter- Texas
2017- Silicon Valley Council of Non Profit 3rd Annual Funding Your Impact Summit | Workshop Presenter “The Art of the Ask, Success and Rejection”
2017- Jack and Jill of America Inc. Webinar Presenter “The Positive Power of Failure”
2016- Oakland Literacy Coalition Featured Speaker – Oakland
2016- World Affairs Council and U.S. State Department Road to Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) –Oakland
2016- University of San Francisco | Commencement Speaker-Commencement Exercises Received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters-honoris causa https://www.usfca.edu/stream/commencement/archive
2015- In The Name of Love, Living Jazz Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. | Keynote Speaker and Humanitarian Award Recipient
2015- Olympic Club Foundation Awards Banquet, Celebrating Success | Featured Speaker
2015- University of California School of Public Health, Global Symposium on Adolescent Health | Making Cents, Making Change - Economic Innovations to Improve Youth Health and Well-Being - Featured Speaker
2015- Community Round-Table Discussion with US Attorney General Eric Holder | Improving Police - Community Relations
2015- Step Up Your Game, Golden State Warrior “My Brother’s Keeper” Panel | Panelist
2013- International Women’s Day – Oakland Mayor, Jean Quan | Featured Speaker
2013- Eddie Walker Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Dinner | Keynote Speaker: “Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders”
2013- College Access of California East Bay College Access | Speaker: “Strategies for College Access Readiness and Persistence”
2013- Healthy Network for California | Presenter: “Creating Sustainable Community-Based Organizations”
2012- College of Alameda | Commencement Speaker – Commencement Exercises
2012- Mitchell Kapor Foundation Conference on What Works for Nonprofit | Guest Speaker: “Working Your Net”
2012- Education Pioneers Symposium | Panelist: “Creating Sustainable Organizations”
2012- California State Select Subcommittee on Men and Boys of Color | Presenter
2011- Featured Interviewee on ABC-TV World News Tonight
2011- Sacramento Chapter Jack and Jill Scholarship Program | Keynote Speaker: “New Leaders for a New Decade”
2010, 2011- Rainbow Push Coalition Annual Conference | Workshop Speaker: Building a College Bound Student
2010, 2011- Annual Public Health Association | Presenter: “Routes to Resilience” and “Violence Prevention Strategies”
2010- Association of Fundraising Professionals | Panelist “Opportunities Knock during Turbulent Times”
2008, 2009- Hewlett Packard Corporate Headquarters African American Student Day Keynote Speaker: “How Will Technology and Service Prepare You for College?” and “Invent Your Success”
2009- San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter 100 Black Men Scholarship Luncheon | Keynote Speaker: “Education, Empowerment, and Service”
2009- Oakland Museum of California | Panelist: “Crips and Bloods” forum on reducing gang violence
2008- Model City Summit on Women | Panelist: “Handle Your Stuff! Mentoring Our Daughters”
Contact Me.
If you have any question or are interested in booking me for your next speaking engagement or a consultation please feel free to contact me.