Today we’d like to introduce you to Reina Jackson.
Hi Reina, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Hi SD Voyager! I am so grateful, and honored, to be here! Thank you so much for affording me this opportunity to share my story and work with your audience.
On May 28, 2021, my firstborn child, Ajanni Cabrera, passed away from the injuries he sustained in a car crash on the 215 Freeway. He was driving home from work and engaged in an illegal street race with another driver. Based upon eyewitness accounts, both Ajanni and the driver of the other vehicle were driving over 100 mph when Ajanni lost control of his car and crashed. As if that wasn’t tragic enough, Ajanni was not wearing his seatbelt, and he was ejected from his vehicle.
I was asleep at the time of Ajanni’s crash. Literally and figuratively. I didn’t know that my son was racing and recklessly driving until AFTER his crash, until AFTER his passing. Had I known, I would have done everything in my power to stop him. I would have talked to him. And if that didn’t work, then I would have even trashed his car, sliced his tires, poured sugar in his gas tank, smashed out the windows. I would have done anything to disable his car and save my son’s life!
In the weeks after Ajanni’s passing, my family and I founded The AJ Project, Inc. We are commissioned to Share Straight Truth And Slam The Brakes on Illegal Street Racing and Reckless Driving amongst teenagers and young adults. We are a 501c3 nonprofit. We Educate, Advocate and Motivate teenagers all the way to senior citizens on the national crisis that street racing and reckless driving is becoming.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest obstacles we are facing are a lack of compassion and an excess of judgment.
Most people are so desensitized to street racing, reckless driving, and the deadly dangers that it poses to the public because of prejudices and stereotypes. This deathstyle of street racing and reckless driving crosses color, gender, socio-economic status. Its target is young people! It seduces young people! A teenager/young adult doesn’t have to “look” a certain way or live in a certain neighborhood to be considered high-risk for – or even participate in- street racing & reckless driving.
Furthermore, the teenagers and young adults who are involved in this culture are not the derogatory terms that they are often called such as “stupid, bastards, dumb.” Neither do they “deserve” what happens to them. They are human beings, someone’s child, sibling, friend, and what they DO deserve is the chance to live! They deserve to be educated and encouraged to stop BEFORE they kill themselves or someone else.
Once we tear down the walls that these prejudices and stereotypes have built, then we will be welcomed into the schools, city councils, churches and courtrooms to effect change that is so desperately needed.
The next challenge we will overcome is securing commercial space critical for the furtherance of our mission. We must couple our Outreach Efforts with a physical place to conduct our Diversion Classes, Mentoring Programs and Support Groups.
We are approaching almost 2 years in existence. The previous 2 years have been simultaneously super challenging and indescribably rewarding. Illegal Street Racing and Reckless Driving is a monster that is never satisfied. Its appetite for death and destruction is insatiable. But because Jesus has been guiding us every step of the way, we have been prosperous and we will continue to have victory! We will eradicate Illegal Street Racing & Reckless Driving!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We advocate and educate and we talk to Everyone! We have spoken at High School Assemblies – we would love to do more of those. Please contact us if you know of a school who would be interested in hosting us! We also have taught a Driver’s Education Class specifically for Parents and Caretakers which we have made available on our YouTube page for those parents who desire to learn how to keep their children safe. Whether their children are the drivers, or are passengers in cars being driven by their teenage/young adult peers, we provide the tools/resources that parents and caretakers can utilize to keep their loved ones alive. In the spring and summer months, we set up our tent at numerous community fairs/events, and share the truth on illegal street racing & reckless driving. We were also invited, by a local police department, to participate in a DUI Checkpoint. That was an incredibly impactful experience.
In addition to combating Illegal Street Racing & Reckless Driving, The AJ Project, Inc. also offers bereavement support and encouragement to Mothers, Grandmothers and Aunts who have laid a child to rest. I often say, Ajanni is living his best life in heaven and it was me who died that night. Sadly, so many other women can relate to this. Learning to live after the death of a child is grueling but it is possible.
On that note, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we invite the Mothers, Grandmothers & Aunts to gather together for a special time of encouragement, fellowship and love. We call it, “Refueling Mother’s Luncheon” and we would love for you to be our very special guests at the 2nd Annual Luncheon! This year, “Refueling Mother’s Luncheon” will be held on November 18, 2023! Register for this FREE Event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/refueling-mothers-luncheon-tickets-624872669977
In January 2022, I wrote and published a book, “Walking In The Whirlwind: Seeing Heaven In The Center of Your Storm”. It is my account of how Jesus helped my family and I through the passing of Ajanni. There was so much about death that I was absolutely ignorant of until it happened to me. I pray that the revelations I received will be a blessing to other women as they go through their healing process. You can purchase a copy via our website, www.TheAJProject.us or via Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Whirlwind-Seeing-Heaven-Center/dp/B09R39FYKS
Most recently, we were guests on Dr. Phil! The Episode “Driving Under The Teenfluence” aired on February 22, 2023 and it is a MUST WATCH for everyone who has preteens, teenagers and young adults! You can watch that full episode on our YouTube Channel!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Back then, I was known as a “student-athlete”. I played a lot of sports; soccer, lacrosse and field hockey to be exact. I was very fast and athletics came naturally to me. And, I loved to read. I would go to the library and spend hours at a time reading books across all genres. I also enjoyed being out in nature; hiking with my camera in hand. I took a few photography classes at school where we had to develop our film in dark rooms which was super cool. I was loud! I had a loud voice and I wore loud clothes! I used to shop in New York, the shops on Canal Street were some of my faves, and I got this neon orange nylon and plastic overalls that was amazing! I wore long acrylic nails in vibrant greens, purples and blues. But, as loud as I was, I could also be reserved, quiet and surprisingly shy at times.
Contact Info:
We would LOVE to connect with you! Illegal Street Racing and Reckless Driving is a Community Issue. It will take the Community collaborating together to eradicate it and save the precious lives of our future generation. Please connect with us at any of the links below.
- Email: Reina@TheAJProject.us
- Website: www.TheAJProject.us
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/The.AJ.Project.Inc/
- Facebook:www.facebook.com/The.AJ.Project.Inc
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/reina-jackson-29a60429
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@theajprojectinc
