Symone Jackson ’13 is a 2016 recipient of the Rise Up: Be Heard journalism fellowship, which gives young people living in California’s most underserved areas an opportunity to report on issues affecting health in their community.
Jackson is a community organizer in San Jose. Her involvement in grassroots organizing and work experience as a public health research assistant has provided her with a unique lens for analyzing community health issues. As a local organizer, she primarily works with families who have lost loved ones to police violence, serving as a consultant, conducting legal research, and performing PR and communications duties. As a fellow, she hopes to further develop her reporting skills while shedding light on some important community health issues in the South Bay such as gentrification and the impact of police violence on children and families.
The fellowship is made possible through a partnership with The California Endowment.