Page 22 - Georgia Forestry - Spring 2020

“Legislators and children alike need to be better informed on one of Georgia’s largest and most important industries. We have to be intentional about educating Georgia’s citizens.”— Rep. Derrick Jackson
one of the most important things he’s been able to share with Rep. Jackson is the connection that African American families from big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Raleigh, Chicago and others have with the rural South. It is precisely this connection, Singleton explains, that helps people living in urban areas see the importance of natural resources — to see “trees” and “woods” as sustainable economic opportunities. Throughout his career, Singleton emphasized, he has tried to shed light on this essential connection.
Through Jackson’s role in government, Singleton wants lawmakers to see the impact of their legislation on the citi- zens of Georgia, who depend on natural resources for their paycheck.
Rep. Jackson’s career in Georgia’s legislature has been marked by his ability to effectively connect his urban constituents to the forestry community and its issues. His focus has been on the connected balance between economic health of the land and the environmental sustainability of the land. “We need to think about how to grow a state, which includes economic development, and we also need to make sure it’s balanced for the next generation,” Jackson said.
Jackson is highly supportive of the education programs that the Georgia Forestry Foundation, Georgia Public Broadcasting, FFA and 4-H programs provide in Georgia as they are helping to prepare the next generation to become “stewards of the land.” Singleton has encouraged this approach, pointing out that forestry is a STEM subject.
“and now, as an elected official, I have a strong appreciation for forestry, too.”
After a career in the United States Marines and as a global executive at IBM, Jackson pursued his patriotic passion for public service and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives to rep- resent District 64, a largely urban and suburban district stretching from the Atlanta Airport to Peachtree City.
Jackson attributes his ability to be a champion of forestry in Georgia’s House of Representatives to the decades of learning about forestry that he gained from his friendship with Singleton and the important connections he made with the members, staff and leadership of the Georgia Forestry Association (GFA).
Jackson remarks that other legisla- tors are constantly surprised to hear him advocating for forestry. “I have found myself in a room in the Capitol, talking about forestry, and people are like ‘What? What do you know about forestry?! Did you grow up in the woods?’ And I say, ‘No, but I have a real good friend who keeps me educated.’”
Connecting Urban
Constituents to Forestry
Although Rep. Jackson grew up in New York City, his family roots are in Burke County; his family line in Georgia goes back to the 1800s. Singleton feels that
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“State government can play a role in these curriculum improvements,” Jackson said. “Legislators and children alike need to be better informed on one of Georgia’s largest and most important industries. We have to be intentional about educating Georgia’s citizens,” he explained, citing major events like Super Bowl LIII, which Atlanta hosted in 2019, as having been an ideal opportunity to highlight Georgia’s $36.3 billion forestry industry and educate the public. Singleton pointed out that Jackson’s comment about the Super Bowl is a “diverse thought” that helps to build important bridges between urban and rural communities and build a climate of trust among all Georgians.
Jackson strongly believes cultivating diverse relationships will build a “pipeline of new leaders across Georgia that will support the future of forestry in our state.”
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