America Inspired: Amir Jackson nutures the creative mind Continue reading on Examiner.com America Inspired: Amir Jackson nutures the creative mind

It started 5 years ago, with one class in one elementary school.  Now, Amir Jackson and his foundation, Nurture the Creative Mind, have expanded across three counties and touched the lives of over 3,500 students.  Nurture the Creative Mind is a nonprofit foundation that helps at-risk children increase their self-esteem through self-expression and positive feedback. 

When asked why he started the foundation, and why he has dedicated the last five years of his life to its success, Jackson tells a story from his youth.  Due to some family difficulties, Jackson was sent to live with his grandmother and aunt.  “Aunt Pam and I bonded immediately, as if our connection had been ordained and determined before I took my first breath,” said Jackson.  One day, Jackson showed his aunt a piece of writing he had done.  “The piece of writing that I gave her reflected my emotional and mental state at the time…I had been acting out in school and at home shouting “SEE ME!,” finally, someone did.”  His aunt was encouraging and positive about the writing, and asked him to continue to write and to show it to her when he did.  “This positive statement of reinforcing encouragement along with her slight smile was enough for me to do just that.”


Jackson knows that his childhood troubles are not unique to just him.  “There are so many youth in our community, society, and the world over screaming 'SEE ME!'” He believes that his troubles were just a way to prepare him for what he was born to do—to see kids and to encourage their creative development and expression. “When I first began the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation in 2007 I truly and honestly had no plans of building a foundation, I just saw the foot prints before me in the sand and I humbly accepted each by placing my feet in one at a time.”

Jackson’s success started at Lincoln Elementary in Layton, Utah, where he was a teacher’s assistant for a special education learning center.  The teacher, Ms. Theresa Larrabee, could tell Jackson was special from the first day he started.  “The mannerisms he had with the kids, he just had a calming effect on them.  He was in tune right away with what each kid needed individually.”  Jackson was assigned to Larrabee’s room to help with a specific child, but was always eager to reach out to all of the kids.  The kids were drawn to him, and responded well to his interactions.  And then, the music started.  Another volunteer, Victor Lawrence, had been coming in to read stories or play guitar with Larrabee’s class, and Jackson asked her if she thought Lawrence might be able to teach him some stuff on the guitar.  When Lawrence came in again, Jackson sat next to him and was able to mirror everything he did.  And from that moment on, he would play for the students, engaging them in even more ways.  Jackson started using poetry and music to help students in the other classes as well.  At the end of his first year at Lincoln Elementary, Jackson came up with the idea to host a Poetry Café in the school library as an evening performance for the kids to read their poetry.  Jackson engaged the community and had local businesses sponsor the event by donating coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks for the evening.  The school expected to have a handful of students and their parents attend, and were surprised to have hundreds of people show up.  “The kids were nervous before they got on, but then they’d start to read and they would just start beaming,” said Larrabee, fondly remembering the event.  “Kids write stuff and we pick it to pieces, we stifle the creativity sometimes because of ‘the way’ we’re supposed to teach language arts.  Amir gets to go in and is like an archeologist; he uncovers the hidden creativity these kids have, instead of expecting kids to write to a certain mold.”

Jackson spends his time developing the foundation, going to school, and working as a special education teacher’s aide in Davis School District.  Jackson’s impact reaches beyond just the students he is able to work with at school assemblies and other NCM workshops.  In April, Nurture the Creative Mind published its first book, Yes, I am Still Here,a 100 page book created and authored by young girls who are survivors of abuse.  These young girls demonstrate empowerment as they share stories of their abuses and the poems that were inspired by these abuses. The book is available for purchase via paypal on the Nurture the Creative Mind website.

In May of this year, NCM and Jackson teamed up with Chuk’s to host a fashion show as a fund raiser for the foundation.  In July, Jackson and others involved with the foundation held their annual “Starving for Education” hunger strike in front of the Starbucks on Hillfield and Antelope Drive in Layton.  The goal was to raise $2,500, and they pledged to continue the strike for as long as it took until the money was raised.  By 6 PM the night of the strike, they had met their goal.

Most recently, Jackson teamed up with Vintage Cupcake Co to host the first ever “Bake and Build” workshop. The younger group of kids developed team work and interpersonal relationship skills while baking cupcakes.  The older group also learned about the steps they would need to take to start a business on their own and developed leadership skills by coaching their peers.

Jackson also oversees Blank Page, a youth created and driven magazine that addresses the issues that are specific and important to the youth in the community.  Blank Page will be releasing its first issue in January, 2012.

Gandhi once said, “Be a positive role model, be the change you want to see in the world.”  Jackson responds to this by saying:

What I want to see is a society that embraces more than it shuns, one that actively encourages rather than passively, I want to see a society that is forward thinking and acknowledges the world’s greatest asset, our children, understanding that a positive investment in our youth today greatly lessons the need for negative investment later in life

At the foundation’s five year anniversary party, Jackson announced that beginning in February, 2012, Nurture the Creative Mind will begin touching the lives of the youth in Boston, MA; officially making them a national organization. 

Awards received:

Outstanding Community Service nominee 2010
Newman Civic Fellows Award 2011
Mayor's Award for Literacy and Arts Education 2011

Other links:
Standard Examiner: He helps children bloom
Davis County Clipper: Non-profit receives alcolades for helping students
Nurture the Creative Mind Blog



Continue reading on Examiner.com America Inspired: Amir Jackson nutures the creative mind - Salt Lake City Single Mom | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/single-mom-in-salt-lake-city/america-inspired-amir-jackson-nutures-the-creative-mind#ixzz1g0f0WI5X

Remain Focused and True:

We at Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation are extremely passionate about the vision and hope that we one day will be a national organization. Not too long ago we were approached by a well established company, that will remain unnamed, about the possibility of partnering with them. They offered to bring our founder to another state to meet with them. Before he went he emailed them outlining a few request that would need to be addressed before a partnership or a meeting would be possible. Below you will find the exact details that we requested be addressed... We never heard from them again.


Primary Questions
1. Control/security
2. Compensation breakdown
Control/Security
1. Contract outlines
a. Timeline
b. Separation of companies
c. Usage restrictions
A. Timeline
i. 1 year contract
ii. Extension considered after 1 year expiration
B. Separation of companies
i. (unnamed company) and Nurture the Creative Mind are two separate entities
ii. Neither company has nor gains rights to the other
iii. Both companies to be represented when working in partnership
C. Usage restriction
i. Clearly stated and outlined that the material, data, programs, products, lessons, and name of either company is to be used only when working in conjunction with one another
ii. Clearly stated and outlined that the material, data, programs, products, lessons, and name of either company can not be used by the other when one or the other is not bound by contract
iii. Clearly stated and outlined that any audience that partakes in a workshop or presentation does not inherit rights to use data or materials nor teach programs or lessons without the written permission of the company whose material, data, lessons, and/or programs they would like to use
iv. Neither (unnamed company) nor Nurture the Creative Mind can create a program that indirectly or directly competes with the other
2. Compensation breakdown
A. Percentage or flat rate
B. Travel compensation

If you have a dream the only way to remain focused is to continuously refocus. you have to remind yourself why you began and do not be distracted or lured by momentary benefits. most of all DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR DESIRE TO SEE YOUR DREAM COME TO FRUITION. They will cheapen and dirty your pure intentions.

Peace and Blessings,
Amir A.H. Jackson
Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation, Founder

We are Accountable to our Supporters/Donors

I believe that a proper amount of transparency and complete accountability is necessary for trust to be established between the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation and our supporters. With that said I have put together a list of NCM Foundation purchases that have been made in the last year that justifies the donations you, the supporters, have so graciously given.

Cost of 8 week program per class-
-Materials- $250x6=$1,500
-Reinforcers- $150x6=$900
-Music education scholarship package (1st place poetry contest winner)- $150x6=$900
- 2nd and 3rd place poetry contest winner (poetry book)- $40x6=$240
-Certificates- $25x6=$150
*8 week program total for 6 classes=$3,690

Marketing and Promotion i.e. fliers, banners etc.- $250

Web Site- $2,500 (donated)
NCM Tees- $350
Book publishing- $1,300
-Printing- $1000
-ISBN- $300
Photographer-$100
*book cost=$2,700
-2 books will be published this year

State registration- $75
Federal registration- $850
*registration total=$925

Camera for documentary- $250
Camcorder for documentary- $400
Mac G5 computer for documentary- $1500
-$900 of cost was deducted NCM Foundation paid $600
*documentary cost=$1,250
-the documentary has not been created yet so this total does not reflect all the costs that will be incurred by the NCM Foundation in the creating of the film.

Total overall cost to run the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation for one year is estimated at $8815.00+
*this does NOT include any personal compensation for any of the members that are affiliated with the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation

The total amount that has been donated in the past year is estimated to be $5,175.00
-Grants=$1,300
-Private=$3,875

Total amount that the NCM Foundation incurred directly in the last year=$3,640.00

Thank you all very much for your continuing support. The future of the NCM Foundation is bright and this is due to supporters like you. On behalf of the entire NCM family you are much appreciated and I personally am eternally grateful.

Peace and Blessings,
Amir A.H. Jackson, NCM Founder
www.NurturetheCreativeMind.com
"The whole is always
greater and stronger
than its individual parts"

"We Are..." May 2010 Speech

First I want to address the students that I have spent time with over the last few months. The time spent has never seemed to be enough, but I want each of you to know that in the little time that we have shared I have grown to care about each of you deeply and individually. I want you each to know that you are all very special to me. I speak for your family, our community, our society and the world; we need and are grateful for you. I want to tell you and you to believe that the possibilities in life for you are countless and without boundaries. Remember that it is not always the most intelligent, talented, or the brightest that make it, but often those who persevere. The individuals that meet their obstacles head on, look them in the face, assess and overcame them, those who do not ask the question why me, rather what now?
Now to the parents and audience members, thank you for supporting these students. Understand that you have provided a lantern of light and the smile that you see on the children’s faces and the laughter you hear is a mere shadow of the light that shines within them.
I wanted to take a brief moment to explain what the NCM Foundation is and how the program works. As I was preparing the details of what I would outline I realized that telling you about our established curriculum and our lessons would only give you a surface understanding of what it is we really are about.
We the NCM Foundation are the counter investment to the sometimes negative investment of the media, society, music, and all other forms of negative stimulus up to and including the youth themselves. We do this because we understand that a positive investment in our youth today virtually insures a brighter tomorrow. We do this because proactive positive attention greatly lessons the need for negative attention later. We do this because failing youth is the blame of the society that has failed them. When we ask what has happened to are youth? All we need to do is look toward ourselves and there the answer will be.
We help the student see the value in themselves and the worth of others. We illustrate how regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, and background all are important and should be respected and appreciated as a basic rule and not a luxury. All of this we do with the colorfully distracting packaging of poetry and music. So if you have questions concerning what it is we do; look toward the place where you will find our future, just look toward the children they have tangibly displayed what it is we do and the significance of it.
We are the positive counter investment, this is what we do and we ask you to please help us so we can continue doing what is so very much needed.

What made you start a Foundation for youth? Understanding, believing and living my purpose

I often get asked the question, “What made you start a foundation for youth?” Although the question may seem simple on its face the answer is indeed complex and to do so, it is necessary for me to open up about events in my life that are not common knowledge and have only been shared with the closet of friends.

There was a time when I was a child where I casted a shadow but in my life there was little light. Due to difficulties at home I was sent to live with my father’s mother. My father’s name is Kenny Jackson and I knew who he was, but that was the extent of our relationship. The lack of relationship with my father created a meager relationship with his side of the family and due to this inadequate relationship the transition to living with my Grandma Jackson was a strained and scary one, to say the least.

I wasn’t the only person living with my Grandma Jackson; there was also her oldest daughter and 2nd oldest child, my Aunt Pam, along with Aunt Pam’s son and my cousin Vernon. Aunt Pam and I bonded immediately as if our connection had been ordained and determined before I took my 1st breath in this world. Her energy and love was undeniable and genuine,it showed through whether she was smiling at something silly I did or said (I always loved to be the clown) or she was frowning from frustration due to my disappointing actions at home and at school. Never did I question her sincerity, because never was her sincerity questionable.

One day I came home and went up to my Aunt Pam and handed her a piece of paper that had some writing on it saying,
“Aunt Pam what do you think of this?”
After reading what I had written she asked,
“Mir (That’s what she and her son called me) where did this come from?”
I replied,
“I wrote it.”
My Aunt then said,
“Yes Mir I know that, but where did this come from?”

The piece of writing that I gave to my Aunt Pam reflected my emotional and mental state at the time. I didn’t know it then, but this was my expressive attempt to get someone to see me. I had been acting out in school and at home shouting, “SEE ME!” finally someone did.

My Aunt rather than continuing to try and get me to admit what was obvious as much as it was obvious I did not want to just said, “Mir this is really good you should write more and when you do let me see them, I would really like that.” This positive statement of reinforcing encouragement along with her slight smile was enough for me to do just that. Anytime I wrote I would give it to my Aunt Pam first, sometimes before it was finished because I knew that smile was waiting for me and I was just too impatient and too overwhelmed with warmth inside to wait for the completion of the current piece.

The troubles I had in life are not unique in any way or measure to me. There are so many youth in or community, society and the world over screaming “SEE ME!” I believe that I went through that phase of my life because I was being prepared for my purpose. This purpose wouldn’t be revealed to me until I was ready to receive it, which was much later in life. Even when I first began the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation I truly and honestly had no plans of building a foundation, I Just saw the foot prints before me in the sand and I humbly accepted each one by placing my feet in one at a time.

Knowledge has a cycle and the cycle of knowledge is only complete when you share and apply it. I started the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation because it is the purpose I was prepared for and it would be a sinful injustice for me not to live out that purpose. A dear friend told me that Gandhi said, “Be a positive role model, be the change you want to see in the world.” What I want to see is a society that embraces more than it shuns, one that actively encourages rather than passively, I want to see a society that is forward thinking and acknowledes the world’s greatest asset, our children, understanding that a positive investment in our youth today greatly lessons the need for negative investment later in life.

- This post is dedicated to my Aunt Pam. Thank you for seeing me.
- The above picture is of the very first Nurture the Creative Mind Class, NCM class of 2007

What is the Nurture the Creative Mind Foundation and What Exactly do we do?

We, the NCM Foundation are the counter investment to the sometimes negative investment of the media, society, music, and all other forms of negative stimulus up to and including the youth themselves. We do this because we understand that a positive investment in our youth today virtually insures a brighter tomorrow. We do this because proactive positive attention greatly lessons the need for negative attention later. We do this because failing youth is the blame of the society that has failed them. When we ask what has happened to are youth? All we need to do is look toward ourselves and there the answer will be.
We help the student see the value in themselves and the worth of others. We illustrate how regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, religion, and background all are important and should be respected and appreciated as a basic rule and not a luxury. All of this we do with the colorfully distracting packaging of poetry and music. So if you have questions concerning what it is we do; look toward the place where you will find our future, just look toward the children they tangibly display what it is we do and the significance of it.