My Idea of the American Dream: Rev. Kim Jackson

Transcript:

My name is Kim Jackson and I am an Episcopal priest. So I'm the Reverend Kim Jackson. And I currently live in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where I am serving as a pastor to a community of people who are experiencing homelessness.

I'm also currently running for office, I'm running for the Georgia State Senate district 41, which comprises, I think the true American dream in many ways. You know, we have Clarkston, which is a refugee resettlement location. And so there are people from all across the world who have found a home in Clarkston and in the surrounding Stone Mountain areas. And we have Tucker, which oftentimes it's kind of more like what you think of as a traditional, like white area, with people who have experienced, I think a lot of opportunities for mobility. And then we have Lilburn and Stone Mountain, which is largely African-American or immigrant population. I mean, it's a really incredible place that I am seeking to represent. And I mean, I think about even my own street. On my own street, there are six different nationalities represented. There are multiple religions and languages spoken just on my own street. And that really is representative of district 41. And I'm excited about it.

Jesus invited us to bring liberation to the captives. Right. You know, the call for healthcare reform, Jesus like went around and brought healing to people. Like, literally he's like, okay, we don't necessarily have a whole complicated healthcare system here, but I can do something here. And he brought healing to people, right? Like feeding the hungry, all those things. Those are the teachings, that's the teachings of Jesus. And those are progressive policies when they get put in action. And so that's who I am. And I think that fundamentally, when we live into those progressive policies, we actually help people reach the American dream.