Musician and member of the famous Jackson Five Marlon Jackson started The Marlon Jackson Study Peace Foundation to promote peace and unity in communities worldwide. Due to his successful career with his brothers, Marlon has had the opportunity to tour the world and experience different cultures. Through his travels he became aware of what foreign underserved communities endure.
“Traveling the globe I’ve gotten to see various cultures and I’ve observed how each community is set up,” said Marlon Jackson. “The way this was started was by the vision that I believe I got from the Lord like eight years ago I’ve met the kids across the world and some of them do not have the basic necessities needed to thrive. When I saw that I knew it was time to focus on the kids.”
It wasn’t long before Marlon came up with the idea to start a foundation that would benefit the basic fundamentals of a healthy environment for children. He knows first hand how important it is to have a cohesive community. Before the Jackson Five became successful, the family lived in an underserved area in Gary, Indiana.
“As a community we all should know that promoting peace and unity would cause a chain reaction that children will observe. It all starts with what we make accessible to the children,” he said.
Study Peace Foundation will create new programs designed to engage young people and adults to live in peaceful environments. The foundation will start off with building playgrounds in challenged communities across the U.S. offering a safe place for children to play and exercise for a healthy lifestyle. The rising issue of obesity and health related illnesses in the African American and Latino communities continues to be important issue.
The foundation will start with a partnership with the company KABOOM to build playgrounds in New Orleans, Gary and Los Angeles. KABOOM and the foundation have already stared the process to build their first playground in New Orleans this summer.
“It’s been ten years since Katrina hit New Orleans and in some areas it looks like the disaster happened a month ago,” said Marlon. “That’s why we decided to come in and build a playground and revitalize the area for the community. The kids really need to see the community change.”
Alongside the playground, walking paths for the athletes and elderly will be made for those who want to remain physically active. According to Marlon, members of the community in New Orleans will have the opportunity to become more involved with their community through this project.
“As a community if we want to promote peace we have to start with the children and make sure we monitor their peers. Prejudice, hatred and bullying are all taught. We learn these reactions from an early age. Projects like these will continue to show the goal I have to uplift others and live a positive life,” he said.
In addition to the building of the playgrounds the Study Peace Foundation will also participate in guest speaking with other organizations that promote peaceful living. The organization hopes to visit inner city schools to speak with student bodies about the importance of living a healthy peaceful life style.
“If you find a void in the world it is your job to find a solution for that void,” Marlon said. “You have to stay true to your mission and listen to whatever input others have that can help you.”