South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) invites the community to its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Event to reflect on the ongoing work of equity and justice in our community. Dr. Thelma Jackson, a distinguished local leader and advocate for equity and change, will deliver a keynote address on behalf of the NAACP of Thurston County.

The event will take place on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. on the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Main Stage.

Admission to the event is free and no tickets are required. For more information, please visit SPSCC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Event page.

About Dr. Thelma Jackson

Dr. Thelma Jackson is a respected community leader and advocate with a career spanning over 50 years in education, equity, and diversity. She served on the North Thurston School Board for two decades, was President of The Evergreen State College Board of Trustees, and was one of the founding members of the Black Alliance of Thurston County. She retired in 2020 from Foresight Consultants, a firm specializing in educational issues, equity, diversity, policymaking, strategic planning, and executive coaching.

Dr. Jackson continues to drive impactful change as the administrator of the Northwest Institute for Leadership and Change. A celebrated historian and author, she published “Blacks in Thurston County, Washington, 1950-1975: A Community Album” in 2022, chronicling the rich history of the Black community in the region. She currently serves as Treasurer and Board Member for the NAACP of Thurston County.

Dr. Jackson’s extensive accolades include the City of Olympia’s Heritage Award, the Washington State Charter School Commission’s first-ever Community-Rooted Leadership Award, and the Lacey Historical Society’s Ken Balsley Historian of the Year Award.

We are proud to be a sponsor!