Dana Jackson
Dana Jackson is the CEO of Dana Jackson Consulting, a Louisville based consulting firm that specializes in results-based leadership, urban engagement strategies and comprehensive community change work. Previously she served as Executive Director of the Network Center for Community Change (NC3), a community development organization focused on changing the odds for kids and families in some of Louisville’s toughest urban neighborhoods. Dana was responsible for overseeing NC3’s network of more than 5,100 members and organizations committed to making durable change in Louisville’s urban core, building effective collaborations with community partners and funders and providing technical assistance nationally and locally. Under her leadership, NC3 grew from a small locally known initiative to a nationally respected non-profit that received local, national and international recognition and awards.
Dana has over 32 years of experience spanning from grassroots organizing to policy making. She served the state of Kentucky as:
- Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Community Based Services, the state’s social services umbrella agency.
- Director of the Division of Protection and Permanency, the state’s child and adult protective services arm and as
- Director of Child Care, where she oversaw the state’s home-based child care programs, as well as administered the child care subsidy program
Dana’s firm serves as consultant to the Annie E. Casey’s Leadership Development Unit as faculty for their Results Count work across the country; StriveTogether; the Center for Community Investment; Brown-Forman Corporation; Feeding America National Office; 15,000 Degrees’ African American Education Initiative and several others.
She is a Magna Cum Laude graduate with Bachelor of Arts Degrees in psychology and child development from California State University, Northridge and a Masters of Arts Degree in psychology from Spalding University – where she now serves as a Trustee.
Dana is an Annie E. Casey Fellow and a Bingham Fellow. She is an active community leader and has been appointed to many commissions, boards and councils.
She is married to Dr. Eliot Thompson and is the proud mother of three boys Jaylen, Nigel and Nuri.
