A trailblazer's journey: Dr. Thelma Jackson reflects on community and systemic change 

Angela Jefferson

Some people wait for change to occur; others dedicate their lives to creating positive change.

For more than five decades, Dr. Thelma Jackson has been one of those changemakers, consistently advocating for education to advance civil rights. Her story reflects the evolution of Thurston County, and a community which has grown more diverse and continues to work on belonging. 

"When people ask why I stayed involved,the answer is simple," Dr. Jackson said. "I've always believed that if you can make things better for the next generation, then you've fulfilled your purpose."

That purpose brought her to Washington in 1968 through an affirmative action recruitment initiative after graduating from a Historically Black College (HBCU). She accepted a position with Battelle Northwest on the Hanford Project, as a biochemist and nuclear scientist.

Her professional expertise did not erase the realities of discrimination. Dr. Jackson and her family moved to Pasco, where she and her husband Nate Jackson quickly became community leaders.

"We didn't wait for someone else to solve problems," she recalled. "We asked ourselves, 'What can we do?' Then we got to work." 

One of those efforts immediately addressed a civil rights concern, utility costs. Black residents discovered that their utility charges were way higher than others.  Learning this, Dr. Jackson and several community members taught residents how to read their own meters and understand billing. That knowledge became a tool for empowerment.

"Once people understood the system, they knew how to advocate for themselves. We took those receipts to the city council and they changed the billing system. Everyone now paid the same rate," she said.

When her family later settled in Thurston County, they encountered another barrier — housing discrimination. Black families faced closed doors when buying homes. In some cases, Dr. Jackson remembers families like Jackie Moore’s, who experienced intimidation trying to purchase a home on Lacey Boulevard.

"It wasn't just about buying a house, it was about being told you didn't belong," she said.

Those experiences strengthened her commitment to changing systems and creating opportunities for future generations. 

Foundation of her life’s work

Growing up in segregated Alabama, she learned early that education could transform lives. She graduated as valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA and became the first female student body president at her school.

Even before college, she created a backyard school using salvaged materials to make desks to help children in her community learn reading, mathematics and life skills.

"I've always believed that every child can learn," she said. "The question is whether adults are willing to give them the opportunity." 

As the first Black elected member of North Thurston Public Schools and later president of The Evergreen State College Board of Trustees, Dr. Jackson challenged leaders to examine policies, curriculum, and student outcomes.

"If children aren't succeeding," she said, "the first question shouldn't be, 'What's wrong with the child?' It should be, 'What didn't we teach?'

She has consistently advocated for culturally relevant curriculum, accountability, and greater diversity among educators. 

"Our children deserve to see teachers and leaders who look like them," she said. "That doesn't happen by accident. School districts must intentionally recruit and retain diverse educators."

Her commitment to community extended beyond education. For Dr. Jackson, leadership has never been about titles. It has always been about preparing others.

"We have to prepare the next generation," she said. "Leadership isn't about holding onto a position. It's about helping someone else become ready to lead." 

Her words reflect the mission of the NAACP, which has worked for more than 100 years to protect civil rights and expand opportunities. In Thurston County, we continue this legacy by advocating for educational equity, protecting voting access, addressing discrimination, and building partnerships to strengthen our community. 

When asked how she hopes history will remember her, Dr. Jackson offered a simple answer.

"I hope people remember that I was a catalyst for change," she said.

Her legacy continues to live in the students she inspired, the families she empowered, and the leaders she continues to mentor. Dr. Jackson reminds us that civil rights history is embedded in our workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. She has spent a lifetime clearing paths for others, which is the enduring legacy of a trailblazer. 

Angela Jefferson is a Tumwater City Council member, Retired HR Executive and member of the NAACP of Thurston County with a passion for social justice, civic engagement, education, and local history.