Trailblazer Fights for STX Youth
In 2015, the 31st Legislature of the Virgin Islands issued a resolution honoring and commemorating Renholdt “Rookie” Jackson for his contributions and years of service with the Virgin Islands Police Department and his continued outstanding and dedicated service to the community and to the people of the Virgin Islands.
The resolution goes on to state, “Whereas Mr. Jackson has always possessed a strong and high level of consciousness for the development and empowerment of the youth of St. Croix; Whereas, in 1974, Mr. Jackson became a trailblazer of the Police athletic League (PAL) Program by founding and establishing the Estate Whim PAL Center; and Whereas, over a span of 41 years with the PAL program , Mr. Jackson has served as a youth advocate, coach, motivator, teacher, mentor, musician, and community activist.”
But what a difference a few passing years and a few new Legislative bodies can make in a man’s life. Jackson is still the same man. Still serving his community in the same ways. Still trying to bring the youth of his island down the straight and narrow road of enlightenment so they can find a better life for themselves within the confines of society. Rookie has dedicated his life to that exact cause. Yet, there seems to be the same continued hitch in his game plan. Very few people in government are listening. The Legislature, that heaped such great honors on him, have turned its back on Rookie Jackson. The governmental agencies that are supposed to be in place to help people like Jackson have turned a deaf ear. There is no money for him and his current program. Not a drop. The Play and Learning Village, a program which he runs off his own private grounds, with his own money can’t seem to attract any outside funding. This exemplary program that deals with dozens of youth who are being trained by Jackson to build and repair cars, build and rebuild bicycles, learn woodworking, and the mechanics of fixing things, along with how to grow and care for plants, and play musical instruments, cannot find any grants or donors or governmental departments that are willing to contribute dollars to help out these youths.
Jackson’s “Do My People Do,” organization has recently joined forces with D.H. Jackson’s Long-Term Disaster Recovery Committee (DHJ). DHJ is a nonprofit organization based on the principles of the St. Croix icon David Hamilton Jackson, who devoted his life to champion those who were less fortunate. DHJ’s mission is to provide long-term recovery services to individuals, families, and local businesses to ensure the safety and wellbeing of citizens of the U.S. and its Territories. DHJ encourages and promotes social and educational enrichment to at-risk teenagers and provides citizens with crisis trauma support caused by disasters.
DHJ Chairman Randolph Bennett cited the collaboration between the two organizations as a historic partnership, “Grooming our young people to learn a trade can ultimately lead to the development of future entrepreneurs, small business owners, or highly skilled workers who can contribute significantly to the economic growth of the United States Virgin Islands, Bennett stated.
“I am proud to partner with D.H. Jackson Long-Term Recovery Committee, Inc to further develop vocational skills for the youths in mechanics, plumbing, carpentry, woodwork and music,” Rookie told the St. Croix Times.
Do My People Do also has a youth music program called “Pick Up a Guitar, Not a Gun.” Just the mere mention of the name indicates the intent of the program is to get youths off the streets and interested in positive pursuits. This new music program declares to the youth of the island that they have a choice to engage their own path to success. They can succeed not only in a personal sense, by fulfilling their musical goals, but in an economic sense by allowing them to become financially independent through their love of music. Among the recent graduates of the Pick Up a Guitar, Not a Gun program are: Elijah Braithwaite, Ezekiel Braithwaite, Kenijah Davis, Ausaru Davis, Elijah Greenidige, A’Jani Allen, De’andre Prentice, Jai Harris, Raynan Willie and Rannica Willie.
The St. Croix Times recently saw several of the musicians perform at the Saturday Farmers Market at the Agriculture Fair Grounds and they blew the crowd away.
“The benefits are countless,” states Jackson. “Essentially, this is our youth’s launching pad to high achievements and victories. We continue to tenaciously help our youth to open doors and build bridges for their future and prosperity. We must preserve our youths in order to preserve our community.”
Jackson was a Virgin Islands police officer for26 years. He knows the streets and he knows the youth of St. Croix. He knows how to present an alternative to a life that shows no promise. During his employment with the VIPD, Corporal Jackson received an “Honorable Service Award” and an “Exceptional Service Award.”
This distinguished man looks around some days and feels he is alone in fighting the battle to save our youth. Yet, he is fighting in the only way he knows how. From a grassroots effort, day-by-day, one youth at a time. He takes them under his wing, teaches them to lift themselves up by their bootstraps and carve a life for themselves that can make them feel proud of their accomplishments.
Every day he is reaching out to the community for help, asking them to join in and fight the good fight to save our youth. This summer of 2024 there were 60 students enrolled in the Do My People Do programs.
Think how many youths might be taken off the streets and given the chance to take a positive road in their life if the community and governmental agencies would give Rookie a better funded playing field.
