OFFERING COMFORT
Kimberly Mahan, right, a close family friend, comforts Barbara Thomas on Monday. Thomas is the mother of Quanita “Tay” Jackson, who was fatally shot Sunday. A memorial Monday at True Skool, an after-school creative arts and hip-hop cultural program, was held in Jackson’s honor. Jackson was shot near North 22nd and West Burleigh streets around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. About 50 people gathered at True Skool, and more Monday evening at a separate vigil, to pay tribute to the woman they said inspired others.
Quanita “Tay” Jackson was a fighter — fighting for peace in neighborhoods beset by violence.
She fought guns and bullets with face painting and music videos, hate and ignorance with a love for community and a wisdom beyond her 20 years.
“She had an amazing talent,” Tom Schneider, executive director of Children’s Outing Association Youth & Family Centers of Milwaukee, said Monday evening.
“But she had more than talent,” Schneider said.
“She had heart.” Schneider’s remarks came at a memorial and vigil for Jackson, a COA program participant, at the COA Goldin Center on North 24th and West Burleigh streets, about two blocks from where the woman was fatally shot about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
Jackson was shot near North 22nd and Burleigh, across the street from Moody Park, where she spent her Saturday putting together a youth basketball tournament to promote peace in the neighborhood.
Jackson was key in putting together the tournament with Program the Parks MKE, an organization that creates events for central city youths.
Program the Parks founder Vaun Mayes said the tournament drew many, including state Sen. Lena Taylor, to the park Saturday.
“Tay was glowing. She was happy. She was dancing,” Mayes said. “We had
youth ambassador shirts made and she was so excited about that, and that’s what makes it worse. That she’s gone just a day later.”
In a Facebook message Saturday, Jackson encouraged people to attend the event, where, she said, “we just want to bring the peace and kindness to our community and to our park. It’s time to put the guns down and start bringing our loved ones and friends and family together again.”
Monday, those who knew her remembered her as a community role model.
“Her gift was supporting other people,” Laamecia Taylor, whose daughter Kennedy was friends with Jackson, said at another memorial Monday at True Skool, an after-school creative arts and hip-hop cultural program.
“If she was having a down moment, you wouldn’t know it,” Taylor said. “She brought energy to the room.”
Said Mayes, “She was so positive. She was a violence interrupter herself. “She was just a great person.” Jackson not only worked for Program the Parks MKE but was also a part of many organizations that aim to make a positive impact on youths.
She was a Milwaukee ambassador for Fresh Empire, a national anti-tobacco movement.
She also was a musician with True Skool and wrote and performed a song encouraging people to “put the guns down” as part of the program.
“We should be celebrating a person going to school or getting a new job, but instead we are mourning a senseless death,” Kimberly Mahan, a close friend of Jackson’s family, said at the memorial at True Skool.
“This makes you want to pull your kids a little closer to you.”
Schneider said a $25,000 reward has been offered by attorney Michael Hupy for information leading to anyone responsible for Jackson’s death.
Police are continuing to seek suspects. They ask anyone with information regarding the shooting to call (414) 935-7360.