Lynne M. Jackson

Lynne M. Jackson is a great-great granddaughter of Dred Scott, and founder and president of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation. The goal of the foundation is to promote the commemoration, education and reconciliation of our histories, with an eye toward helping to heal the wounds of the past.

Dred Scott and his wife, Harriet, were pioneers in the American civil rights movement. Their case, the landmark Dred Scott Decision of 1857, became a major catalyst for the Civil War. In little more than a decade after the Decision was rendered our nation abolished slavery, granted equal citizenship to African-Americans, and guaranteed the right to vote regardless of race or color. The courage and sacrifice of Dred and Harriet Scott and their family played no small part in achieving this monumental victory.

Since the inception of the foundation in 2006, Lynne has dedicated herself to casting a new light on the history of her ancestor and the landmark Dred Scott Decision by commemorating, educating and actively working toward reconciliation. She has traveled across the United States sharing the story of her ancestors, their case, and what it means to the future of this nation. Her efforts have been effective and thorough.

In 2007, the City of St. Louis, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, Bryan Cave Law Firm, Washington University and numerous other local organizations and institutions worked side by side with Lynne and the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation to facilitate the commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Dred Scott Decision. In May, 2007, the Foundation renamed the block of Fourth Street to “Dred Scott Way.”

Since that time, the Missouri Senate has honored Lynne with a recognition resolution from the State of Missouri. She received resolutions from three Southern Baptist Conventions which voted and resolved to denounce racism and asked forgiveness for their stand on slavery during the Dred Scott era by promoting a commitment to reconciliation. Lynne spoke in the state capital as Dred Scott was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians at the Missouri capitol building.

Under Lynne’s direction, the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation commissioned and erected a life sized statue of Dred and Harriet Scott and has dedicated it to the American people outside the place where Dred and Harriet Scott first filed for their freedom, the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, Missouri. The statue is under the custodial care of the National Park Service.

The Sons and Daughters of Reconciliation ™ are individuals who have committed to participating in educational programs of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation to promote and remember their ancestor’s histories and their importance to the generations who do not know. Several include descendants of past slave owners. In recent years, several have convened at the Annual Reconciliation Forum.

Lynne was born and raised in St. Louis, where she and her husband, Brian, now reside. They have two children.

EXTENDED BIO: LYNNE M. JACKSON

• President and Founder: Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, an organization dedicated to the commemoration, education and reconciliation of our nation through the collective history of the Dred Scott family
• Board Member: ACTIVE: Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, St. Louis Artist Guild, Mission Metro STL
  PAST: Association of Legal Administrators, Administrative Management Society, Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Network (past president), Urban K-Life (Advisor), Community Women Against Hardship (past vice-president)
• Volunteer: Prison Ministry at St. Louis County Jail, Community Women Against Hardship, Global Day of Prayer (2003-2010), Antioch Baptist Church Junior High Sunday School Superintendent, Ferguson Declaration Leadership Committee (2015)
• Convener: Dred Scott Reconciliation Forum (Annual Event), Marshfield, Missouri
• Co-Sponsor: Discover Your Roots Genealogical Conference (Hosted by LDS Lindell Ward)
• Author and Publisher: Dred Scott Activity and Coloring Book designed to teach young people about the history of the Dred Scott family and history
• Producer and Host: “PARRC Presents,” a 30-minute cable television program on biblical apologetics
• Guest Co-Host: “Space is the Place” with Steve Engelmeyer, a radio program heard on UMSL (University of Missouri-St. Louis) Student Public Radio featuring her segment, “Eclectic, Classical, Retro Thursdays” (2011-2012)
• General Services Manager: Bryan Cave, LLP one of the nation’s most prestigious law firms
• Employee Relations Associate: Ford Motor Company
• Supervisor of Data Entry: CASS Logistics, Cass Commercial Corporation
• Business Operations Director: Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis
• Bachelor of Science: Business Administration and Marketing, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
• Graduate: Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio of St. Louis

AWARDS:
2014   National Women’s History Month Nominee (National Women’s History Project) CA
2013   Empowering Women Who Inspire Award (Women in Vision – Ministry to Female Ex-Offenders) STL
2012   First National Statue of Dred and Harriet Scott – Old Court House (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – St. Louis, Missouri)
2011   Racial Harmony Phenomenal Women Inductee (Center for Racial Harmony – Belleville, Illinois)
2011   Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative (Cherry Blossom Festival – Marshfield, Missouri)
2008   Social Justice Award (Spiritual Learning Center)
2008   Community Service Award (Elijah P. Lovejoy Society)
2008   Special Recognition Award (St. Louis Argus)
2007   State of Missouri Senate Resolution
2007   Metro Baptist Association Resolution (National, State and Local)
2007   Freedom – Dred Scott Legacy Award (Bott Radio Network)
2003   Community Service Award (Community Women Against Hardship)

SPEAKING HIGHLIGHTS:
Lynne is a veteran of over 300 speaking events. Following are a few of the highlights of her presentations and appearances from 2007 to present:

2014
Metropolitan Community College, Omaha Nebraska;
School Sisters of Notre Dame, Santa Maria Ripa Women’s Leadership Luncheon
Women’s Power Networking Luncheon, Chesterfield, MO
Spoke to several hundred high school students at the William Mitchell College of Law, hosted by Chief Justice Michael Davis and the 8th District Court as part of the Open Doors to Federal Courts program
Met officials at Ft. Snelling where the Scotts married, and Native American descendant with MN History
Daughters of American Revolution, Colonial Dames and Daughters of Union Veterans in Springfield, IL
Reconciliation in Sports, Dred Scott Reconciliation in Marshfield, MO
The Law and You: Know Your Rights; Ferguson, MO Community Presentation with NOBLE IL and DC

2013
Martin Luther King Dinner (Ritz-Carlton Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri)
Springfield Museum and African American Institute (Springfield, Illinois)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, Illinois)
Week-long engagement in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during which time Lynne spoke at the Minnesota Club for the Federal Bar Association of Minnesota Program, Legacy of Courage and Freedom, at the Hennipen Library for the Minnesota African American Museum, presented at the University of St. Thomas School of Law for several Bloomington high schools, was keynote speaker at the Bloomington Civic Plaza
Juneteenth Celebrations speaker for the Slave Trade Commission in Richmond, Virginia
Juneteenth speaker for the Decatur African American Museum in Decatur, Illinois

2012
Missouri Bar Association Annual Meeting and Judicial Conference (St. Louis, Missouri)
Association of Personal Historians National Conference (Frontenac, Missouri)
St. Louis Beacon Festival Panel Discussion (“A Landmark Decision, A Landmark Location”) (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – Old Court House, St. Louis, Missouri)
Dred and Harriet Scott Statue Dedication (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – Old Court House,
St. Louis, Missouri) and reception (Bryan Cave, LLP)
Hall of Famous Missourians (Jackson Address – Dred Scott Induction) (Capitol Building, Jefferson City, Missouri)
Freedom and the Courts Public Lecture Event (“Free at Last” – Opening Remarks) (Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse, St. Louis, Missouri)
Women’s History Month (“Legacy of the Dred Scott Decision”) (National Historic Site Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas)
Black History Month Observance (guest of Indiana Supreme Court, Indianapolis, Indiana)
Daughters of the American Revolution (St. Louis Chapter) (Wildwood, Missouri)

2009
Mayflower Society of Missouri (Addressed descendants of the Mayflower Compact)
(Columbia, Missouri)
Coalition of Women Labor Unions (Fenton, Missouri)
Ethical Society (Mid-Rivers Chapter) (St. Charles, Missouri)

2008
Teamsters National Black Caucus Annual Meeting (Opening Session) (St. Louis, Missouri)
20th Annual Educational Policy Conference – (Constitutional Coalition) (St. Louis, Missouri)

2007
Christian Community Development Association (with civil rights legend Dr. John Perkins, 1500 in attendance) (Adam’s Mark Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri)
Elijah P. Lovejoy Society Annual Award and Reception (Webster Groves, Missouri)
Metro Baptist Association (Creve Coeur, Missouri)
“Lunch with Lynne Jackson” (Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, Women’s Law Association of Central Illinois, Hosted by Brown, Hay and Stevens) (Sangamon Club, Springfield, Illinois)
Missouri Bar/Missouri Judicial Conference Annual Meeting (presentation prior to installation of the first African-American President of the Missouri Bar Association, Mr. Charles Harris)
Underground Railroad Research Institute Inaugural Conference (Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky)
“Dred Scott Day at Busch Stadium” (Lynne threw out first pitch for Cardinals)
(Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri)
Naturalization Ceremony (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – Old Court House, St. Louis, Missouri)
Urban League National Convention (Dred Scott Opening Ceremony Press Conference)
(Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – Old Court House, St. Louis, Missouri)
Boeing Corporate Counsel (Bryan Cave Law Firm) (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial – Old Court House, St. Louis, Missouri)
National Association of Attorneys General National Conference (Closing Session) (Broadcast via C-SPAN) (Washington, D.C.)
National Geo Spatial Intelligence Agency (Hosts Lynne and the Black Rep of St. Louis performing “No Land’s Man,” a play about the life and times of Dred Scott) St. Louis, Missouri

In addition to these, Lynne has spoken for numerous schools, colleges and organizations.