The influential social justice organization, the Leaders Network, announced earlier this month that it has a new head of its business division: Marseil “Action” Jackson.
The Leaders Network is a volunteer organization with no employees. While it has had a business division in the past, for its 20th anniversary this year, it’s revamping and enhancing the division’s structure. As part of that, Jackson, a resident of Austin, has been appointed its leader.
Pastor Ira Acree, co-chair of the Leaders Network, said the group chose Jackson to head its business division because he’s a popular local figure with a platform, but also because he’ll draw in younger people.
“This is a huge deal to bring in one of the movers and shakers of our day and time, a powerful, influential millennial leader. That’s what we need as we continue to try to bridge the generational gap,” Acree told Austin Weekly News. “It helps to have an institution supporting him. It expands opportunities, not only for him, but for this initiative to be that much more impactful.”
“I’m really excited to use this platform to get people involved, because I was told, ‘If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,’” Jackson said. “We want to make sure that business owners are at the table and that there isn’t one person or one organization making all of the decisions for an entire group of people.”
The Leaders Network previously named a business of the month and had members who were business leaders and often shared information and resources. Now, the organization is putting more focus on bringing businesses to its forefront by providing knowledge and resources for local entrepreneurs, advocating for their access to capital and contracts, plus creating a network of business owners.
Acree said the organization is doing this now, partially for its 20th anniversary and because its members aren’t getting any younger.
“This being our 20th year in business, bringing this millennial leader is going to widen and expand our tent,” Acree said. “It exhibits a hybrid degree of inclusivity – this is not just some middle-aged organization.”
The business division was also restructured because of the current federal administration.
“We’ve got to present options and opportunities for people to support and to collaborate,” Acree said. “While we may do a great service to resist this authoritarian leadership that’s coming from Washington, we also have more effect and could have potentially more impact on our local politics, by trying to encourage, promote, inspire and develop leaders around us.”
Rev. Marshall Hatch, co-chair of the Leaders Network, said Jackson is a good fit given the state of national politics.
“Marseil Jackson is one of the brightest young lights in our community,” Hatch said in a statement. “His leadership demonstrates that our social justice work is being embraced by a new generation. In spite of the chilling civil rights rollbacks in our current political climate, our community will not go back.”
Meet Marseil “Action” Jackson
Jackson, 36, is an Austin resident, well-known radio personality and entrepreneur.
For the last decade, he’s been the co-host and co-executive producer of The Brunch Bunch, a radio show on Inspiration 1390 AM that airs weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. The show covers topics of community, business and faith.
On his radio show and beyond, Jackson is an activist for economic development, affordable housing and access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Jackson is also an entrepreneur, leading the marketing company Dream Team Enterprises. And he recently submitted a building permit to start construction on Dream Center Studios, a podcast studio, art gallery and wellness cafe.
In 2021, Jackson opened the Dream Center at 5927 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin as a co-working space. He said he bought the building and was awarded a grant from the City of Chicago to rehab it. The Dream Center provides office space, as well as business support and services for marketing, social media, workshops and consulting.
“I was told that Austin didn’t need a co-working space, the community wasn’t ready for that,” Jackson told Austin Weekly News. “And it has been a very successful business since its inception.”
Jackson said he’ll use these previous experiences as head of the Leaders Network’s business division to galvanize local entrepreneurs and expand the group’s business efforts.
As director of the business division, Jackson’s priorities include creating a directory of businesses and launching quarterly business luncheons. He also plans to work with legislators to create policies and advocate for state and federal funding that helps Austin businesses, especially those in emerging business districts on Madison Street and Chicago Avenue.
“As small business owners, one of the biggest hurdles is overhead costs,” Jackson said. “I want to make sure that there’s funding directed to these districts to entice business owners to open.”
“We want to build business corridors where the community can come out, shop together, eat together, congregate together,” Jackson added.
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