Phillip Jackson was the founder of the Black Star Project and a former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and Chief of Education for the City of Chicago. Prior to entering pubic service he had a 24-year career with Kroch’s and Brentano’s booksellers, rising from stock room to Sr. Vice President of Operations.

Among his numerous recognitions, he was honored as an Education Champion of Change at the White House during the Barack Obama administration, and as Education Man of the Year at the Bud Billikin Parade.

In 1996 he started the Black Star Project to eliminate the education gap among low income black and latinx youth. Black Star focused on tutors, mentors, and parents - including the Million Father March, taking their kids to school on the first day of the school year. Educational programs include: Saturday University, Math Boot Camp, Reading Academy, and private tutoring.

Phillip Jackson was born into the Altgeld Garden public housing project in Chicago and later lived in the Bronzeville neighborhood.

Education:

National Lewis University
Roosevelt University
DuSable High School
Chicago Public Schools

Honorary Phillip Jackson Parkway

35th Street between South Rhodes Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive

Approved: April 2021

Ward: 4
Alderman: Sophia King
Neighborhood: Bronzeville

Black Star Project
3509 S. Martin Luther King Drive

b. September 22, 1950. Chicago.
d. November 4, 2018. Age 68.

Source

Black Star Project
Block Club Chicago
TheHistoryMakers.org
GameChangersProject.org