"There isn't a challenge that cannot be met through God and perseverance."
Chrisy E. Davis-Jackson, Esq.
First Lady,
St. Matthew A.M.E. Orange, NJ
About Christy Davis-Jackson
Until General Conference 2008, St. Louis, MO
Christy E. Davis was born to Eugene and Betty Davis of Cleveland Ohio, where she was raised with three brothers and much extended family.
Christy attended and graduated from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy having studied abroad in London, England at Richmond College and the London School of Economics. While as an intern at the House of Commons, Christy developed her thirst for politics. "The use of politics to influence policy that could transform people's lives was a powerful aphrodisiac," say Davis-Jackson.
After Chatham, Christy graduated from Rutgers Law School in Newark, where she and three other law students started the Sports and Entertainment Law Group. She also interned with the Women Rights Litigation Clinic and the Urban Rights Litigation Clinic where as a third year student Christy handled real cases involving landlord tenant, emancipation of minors and discrimination claims.
A chance conversation with the law school Dean of Students however changed Christy's life. "Dean Janice Robinson asked if I would go and meet, Wynona Lipman, a state Senator, who only wanted lawyers or law students for aides. The Dean knew I had an offer to clerk with a well known judge but asked if I would, as a favor to her, go and see this Senator Lipman. She saw something in me that I hadn't acknowledged in myself. I thought I was on the career path to be the black Perry Mason".
Christy went to see Dr. Wynona Lipman and four hours later had an offer to be Dr. Lipman's legislative aide and counsel, a career decision that developed her interest in public policy.
After managing Dr. Lipman's legislative agenda for five years she went on to be US Senator Frank Lautenberg's Project Director in Washington D.C. and New Jersey, and also Lautenberg's deputy campaign manager during his successful 1995 campaign. Christy was then promoted to State Chief of Staff for Senator Lautenberg, the first African American to assume that appointment in New Jersey's history.
After her work with Senator Lautenberg, she went to Warner Lambert Pharmaceutical Company to head their media relations department.
By this time, Christy had been named one of the 50 Most Interesting New Jerseyans by NJ Monthly magazine, one of the 30 Leaders of the Future by Ebony Magazine, a mega mentor by national Junior Achievement for her mentoring of scores of college students and a personal mentor to Towanna Campbell and Kareem Williams. Christy has received awards by many county Urban League organizations, local chambers of commerce and rotary clubs.
Christy's motto is "There isn't a challenge that cannot be met through God and perseverance."
In 1999, she was introduced to Governor Jon Corzine, who then Chairman of Goldman Sachs, who was considering his first foray into politics. Corzine tapped Christy to run his groundbreaking primary campaign for the United States Senate and in doing so; Christy became the first African American to run a statewide campaign in New Jersey's history.
Christy fulfilled one of her adult dreams of starting her own public affairs/lobbying firm in 2001. The firm was the first African American wholly owned lobbying firm in New Jersey's history.
She says however that her most notable achievements are left from the headlines. As First Lady of St. Matthew AME Church, she has embraced her missionary work through her commitment to children and their issues.
She started Lillian's Closet, a free infant and toddler clothing boutique, after a chance conversation about where in the area parents could get used baby clothing. After determining there was not such location, she challenged the missionary women of the church to start such an operation. "Women who shop at our free boutique comment that it's like going to shop at the local department store," says Christy proudly.
Christy brought the Heart Gallery exhibition, a nationally acclaimed photo exhibition of foster children in need of adoption to St. Matthew, a first for an African American church in New Jersey. "The executive director was looking for a Sunday when she could come and speak to the congregation. I thought that that might not be enough to drive our message home. These children desperately need families of their own and there is nothing that speaks more fluently than a child's own face and story and these children are absolutely beautiful." Says Davis Jackson. Though the exhibition was used to larger more prestigious spaces in large corporate office parks, or university settings, Christy convinced the Heart Gallery board to bring the exhibition to the Black Church, beginning with St. Matthew church. As a result four families in the church are pursuing adoption.
Christy volunteers her time and energies to the many community partnerships, whether it's AIDS work and the work of prevention that's needed, especially amongst African American women, to tutoring for the children in elementary schools in Orange.
Christy's next venture is targeted to the young ladies in the church ages 10-17. She is planning to introduce a 6 week social and charm program for the young ladies of St. Matthew church where they will learn basic etiquette and social graces.
Her annual First Lady's Tea for the women of St. Matthew is a much anticipated event on the church calendar.
She married her longtime best friend, Reginald T. Jackson in 2004 and became stepmother to Regina Victoria, a college senior at Florida A&M University. On July 28, 2005, her son Seth Joshua Jackson was born. "Being a mom to Seth and Regina surpasses anything and everything that I have ever done or will do," says Christy.