Summary

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay on Tuesday awarded Southeast Seattle resident Marty Jackson with the Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”

Story

King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay on Tuesday awarded Southeast Seattle resident Marty Jackson with the Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?” 

For more than 25 years, Jackson has brought her lived experience and local knowledge to bear in working to improve the future of young people in Southeast Seattle and beyond. She has spent years working, consulting, and training in gang and delinquency prevention/intervention/re-entry, youth/young adult development, workforce development and training, restorative practice, youth and family advocacy, project management, public safety and community organizing and mobilization.

In her current role as SE Network Executive Director at Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, Marty leads and oversees the SE Network SafetyNet, Safe Passage and the Southeast Safety Hub for the Seattle Community Safety Initiative (SCSI).

“Marty Jackson has dedicated her life to the community. From disrupting cycles of violence to uplifting community voices, she is building a better future for everyone in and beyond District 2,” Zahilay said. “She exemplifies Dr. King’s life of service, advocacy, and justice, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”

This marks the seventh year that councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question.