Young activist seeking 28th Ward seat


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By Michael Romain

A crowd of roughly 60 supporters packed the Shrine nightclub and lounge on the near South Side Oct. 5, to hear 26-year-old Marseil Jackson announce his campaign to unseat 28th Ward Ald. Jason Ervin, our partners at the Austin Weekly News report.

“I’m running for alderman of the 28th Ward because of the vacuum of leadership in Chicago,” said Jackson, a community organizer and entrepreneur.

“I’m running for alderman so that our community can get simple services, so our streets can be cleaned and potholes filled. There is no reason our schools should be closed and kids have to walk in gang-infested territories just to get to school.”

Jackson spoke before a crowd that included family members, friends and fellow congregants of his church, Corinthian Temple Church of God in Christ.

At 15, Jackson started a business when his Xbox video game console broke. He sold it online on eBay for $50, and from that point started importing items wholesale from China.

Before his 16th birthday, Jackson attracted his first investor, who poured $10,000 into the business, and his serial entrepreneurship had begun.

After high school, the West Side native attended Illinois Central College and in 2009 founded the Jackson Action Coalition, a community organization with the goal of “bridging generational gaps by empowering community, youth and seniors through outreach, services and events,” according to his campaign website.

Also running for 28th Ward alderman is Chicago special education teacher Tammie Vinson, who is backed by Chicago Teachers’ Union president and possible mayoral candidate, Karen Lewis.

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