Lynne M. Jackson, President and Founder
Heritage:
Great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott of the Dred Scott Decision, 1857
Great-great-great niece of Oscar Charleston, Negro League Superstar
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing,
Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Graduate of Alleda Ward Wells Piano Studio of St. Louis
A Major Life Accomplishment:
Founded the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation with the goals of commemoration, education and reconciliation. In 2010, the Foundation raised $250,000, commissioned, and installed the first and only statue of Dred Scott including his wife, Harriet, which stands outside the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, MO since June 8, 2012. The Foundation also raised $over $80,000 for a new memorial for Dred Scott at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis in September 2023.
Her primary motive is to share and continue the legacy of Dred Scott and his important role in changing the landscape of the United States by his 11-year legal battle for freedom. Her expertise is blending the personal and legal cases together and portraying a composite picture of what the Scott family’s struggle really meant.
She created signature panels comprised of descendants whose stories connect directly or indirectly with the Dred Scott story and is in close association with the Blow Family (former owners of Dred Scott) and the Taney Family (whose ancestor Chief Justice who read the Dred Scott Decision), as well and the families of Thomas Jefferson and Jefferson Davis, to mention a few. These panels were designed to share the histories and the contemporary relationships as they stand today and why. These panels are called Dred Scott Presents: Sons and Daughter of Reconciliation.
Prior to adding the Foundation’s work to her life, she has always been a lover of the Word of God and has been instrumental in teaching, writing, curriculum development, music, Vacation Bible School (Director/Designer), Co-founded the Prophecy and Apologetics Research and Resource Center (PARRC) ministry, teaching apologetics with her husband and has been in 10-12 choirs over the years.
The priority and love of family and people motivate her and energizes her to help people excel and become knowledgeable about many things. Although she has never had her own classroom, the teacher in her comes naturally from her father and his mother, both being educators and community leaders and her father being a J.D. from Lincoln Law School.
She has travelled across the country and spoken to many hundreds of groups to share the expanding story of Dred Scott and his family, their ordeal and importance, hoping to encourage others to seek their histories and reconcile them when necessary.
Professional Experience:
Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, President and Executive Director
General Services Manager, Bryan Cave LLP
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
McDonnell Douglas Automation Company, Co-op Student
Southwestern Bell, Time Study Assistant
SIUE Admissions Office, Administrative Assistant
Board Memberships: (past and present)
Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, President and Founder
Jefferson National Parks Association, Director
Freedom Suits Memorial Foundation, Director
Association of Legal Administrators
Administrative Management Society
Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Network, Past President
Community Women Against Hardship, Past Vice-President
St. Louis Artists’ Guild, Director
Mission Metro St. Louis,
Urban K-Life, Advisory Board
MAJOR FOUNDATION WORK:
The Dred Scott Memorial Monument At Calvary Cemetery, St Louis, MO 2023
The Dred Scott Statue, St Louis, MO 2012
Initiated the Dred Scott bust in the Hall of Famous Missourians, Missouri State Capital
Initiated A National Dred Scott Stamp Campaign, Ongoing
With Greenwood Cemetery, helped spearhead first headstone and pavilion on Harriet’s Hill for Harriet Scott 2008. Celebrated the installation of a headstone on Harriet’s actual grave.
Created Educational Program – Reading: A Civil Right (Encourages Literacy, Teaches Reading and Established a Sci-Fi Reading Club)
Signature Panels – Dred Scott Presents: Sons And Daughter Of Reconciliation
Initiated The Dred Scott Freedom Award Given To Lifetime Achievers In Various Fields That Have Improved Humanity In Some Way
NOTABLE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS (SPEAKER ON THIS TOPIC SINCE 2006)
National Association Of Attorneys General National Conferences (2007, 2021)
Brookings Executive Leadership Institute Speaker Wash U
Virginia, Missouri, Minnesota Bar Associations
Boeing Company (Formerly McDonnell Douglas Aircraft – Automation Company)
Harvard, Wash U, University At Buffalo, Virginia Union U, Regents U, Over 15 Law Firms, From New York To San Francisco, Museums, Libraries, Private High Schools, Midwife Conference, Mohave Desert Jr/Sr/ High School, Ca; St. Stephens Academy, Broward County, Fl; Over 600 Events In 18 Years
Multiple Media Appearances, including: documentaries: Dred Scott, (The History Channel) For The National Parks Service, “14, The Movie”, Amend (Netflix), A More Or Less Perfect Union, (PBS) First Woman Voter, The Today Show, CBS Good Morning America, numerous radio, podcasts, C-Span and TV interviews. Featured in the St. Louis Magazine 2007 for Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and 150th Anniversary.
A SAMPLING OF AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Spirit of Justice Award from the STL Bar Foundation
Daughters Of The American Revolution (National Medal Of Honor And 2 Others)
Daughters Of Union Veterans, Honorary Membership
Missouri House Of Representatives
National Women’s Award (Honorable Mention)
Freedom Award From Bott Radio Network
Community Service Award from Community Women Against Hardship
Ford Motor Company Service Award
Proclamation from the Missouri State Senate for heritage work
Elijah P. Lovejoy Society Community Service Award
East St. Louis Senior High Tribute Award from the Class of 2007
Social Justice Award from the Center for Spiritual Learning
Special Recognition Award, St. Louis Argus
Proclamation from City of St. Louis for Heritage work