Rooted in Reality
In the heart of Delray Beach, Florida, where palm trees sway beside government housing and hope often struggles to take root, Emanuel Dupree Jackson is building something radical: a future. As the founder and executive director of the EJS Project, Jackson isn’t just mentoring youth—he’s reshaping an entire community’s belief in what’s possible.
“I grew up in a household where what people call ACEs—adverse childhood experiences—were just everyday life,” Jackson reflects. “Drug dealing, mental health struggles, domestic violence. That was my norm.” Yet, despite the chaos around him, Jackson carried a resilient spirit. Fueled by football and faith, he used sports as a way out—and a mirror to look in. “Football gave me a scholarship, but more than that, it helped me see myself outside of what I came from.”
The Birth of a Movement
That vision eventually led to the birth of the EJS Project, a youth-focused nonprofit committed to creating safe spaces, providing mentorship, building social capital, and reshaping what opportunity looks like for Black and Brown teens. The work is personal. Jackson’s own life story is proof that when young people are seen, supported, and challenged, they can rewrite their narrative.
The Spark: A Promise to God
The catalyst? A hospital bed and a promise. “When I got sick, I told God, ‘If I get out of here, I’m gonna spend the rest of my life proving You right.’ That moment birthed EJS.” But the spark was already ignited when Jackson, after returning from college, took custody of his younger cousin to stop him from going down a destructive path. “I packed two suitcases, came home, and said, ‘This boy needs me more than college does right now.'”
Purpose-Filled Programming
From that decision came a movement. Today, the EJS Project operates a range of powerful, youth-centered programs:
- Purpose Pays: Paid internships that connect teens to real-life professional opportunities.
- About That Action: A civic engagement initiative where students canvass, serve, and connect with local leaders.
- Project HUB: A teen-led, youth-designed drop-in center that feeds, supports, and uplifts.
- Each One Teach One: Academic mentorship, tutoring, and access to mental health support.
“We don’t just give kids a space. We give them a stage,” Jackson explains. “They design the rooms. They set the rules. They lead the conversations.”
A Testament to Transformation
Jackson beams when telling the story of Ford Derastel, a young man from Haiti who entered the program struggling with English and surrounded by gang violence. “I told him, ‘You are exactly why I do this work. If you buy in, your life will look different.’ He never got less than a 4.0 GPA after that.”
Ford Derastel leaned into every opportunity: from tutoring to test prep, financial literacy to job internships. He now earns over $50K a year, owns multiple vehicles through Turo, supports his family, and lives a life that once seemed out of reach.
“That’s the power of belief, structure, and one adult showing up consistently,” Jackson says.
Why It Works
“We’re not playing games with these kids. They know it’s real. We pick them up, feed them, tutor them, love on them, push them. Our standards are high because their potential is higher.”
Jackson’s method is equal parts authenticity, accountability, and care. “I used to think I was too loud, too different. Now I know I was built for this. The same fire that got me through a busted home is the same fire that builds this organization.”
The Challenge Within the Village
But Jackson doesn’t shy away from hard truths—even within his own community.
“We’ve raised close to $4 million over 10 years, and maybe $100K has come from our own community. That hurts. Our board is getting whiter, and white folks shouldn’t be fighting harder for our equity than we are.”
He continues: “I’m not asking for handouts. I’m asking for show-ups. Speak at a career day. Connect us to opportunities. Bring your skills. Be about what we talk about. Because this isn’t just my work—it’s our work.”
A Blueprint for What’s Possible
Through every program, every hard conversation, and every teen who walks through the doors of EJS Project, Dupree Jackson is planting seeds. Seeds of belief. Of self-worth. Of transformation.
“The kids call me ‘Mr. Pre.’ And I tell them all the time, ‘You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be present. We’ll do the rest together.'”
The Legacy Continues
Today, the EJS Project is a force in Palm Beach County—and beyond. With teens visiting state legislators, building resumes, improving GPAs, and learning to advocate for their communities, the future is already being shaped in rooms where they were once overlooked.
“I’m not trying to save kids,” Jackson concludes. “I’m just creating a space where they remember who they’ve always been. Greatness is already in them.”
The Heart Behind the Hustle
Beyond his work in the community, Emanuel Jackson’s most sacred role is that of husband and father. It was the birth of his first child that shifted his thinking from short-term hustle to long-term legacy. “I remember asking myself, ‘What will I tell my daughter on career day?’ That question haunted me—in the best way,” he shares. Today, he models manhood not only through his presence, but through his purpose. His love for his wife and children anchors everything he does. “My family is my why. They’ve seen me build EJS from scratch. They’ve seen the sacrifices. But more importantly, they’ve seen me keep my promises—to them and to the community. That’s what being a man means to me.” For Jackson, fatherhood isn’t just a personal responsibility—it’s a public example. And for the youth watching, it’s yet another blueprint for what love, leadership, and legacy can look like.
He’s not just about that action. He is the action.
And for the young people of Palm Beach County, that changes everything.
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