By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Every Thursday, Freddy Jackson travels in his shiny white van with the unmistakable logo that says Love: No Ego to visit and work with youth in Fluvanna. At first glance, one might wonder what it means. For youth in Central Virginia, it is a lifeline to finding their true selves and living their lives to their full potential without societal pressure.
Jackson, the founder of the non-profit Love: No Ego, got his B.A. In journalism and radio broadcasting. He is also an author, and musician and has a master’s in psychology and another master’s in organizational development and leadership. He is also a life skills coach and case manager, a social-emotional learning coach at Albemarle County Public Schools, and the leader and developer of the Elements of Peace Program. Many of the skills he acquired and experienced were during his search for self-awareness.
Almost nine years ago, the idea of Love: No Ego came to him through personal experiences, mistakes, and being unfulfilled.
“I also considered the heaviness of the political climate of our country, the way we treat each other as humans, and how the ego is always out front, constantly in our faces. We promote and live through the ego more than we do our natural human intuition,” he said, “It became evident that love is the greatest energy ever and everything that we are designed to do and be here. And the ego is the one thing that can keep you away from everything that you’re designed to do and be here on earth. So I thought, we just need more Love and less ego. Love: No Ego. And it became something that I knew I had to share.”
Among the tools he uses to reach troubled youth is nature.
“Nature is one of the best tools that we use. As you know the benefits of nature on human beings are positively endless.” He adds that 95 percent of what we do occurs outdoors, including hikes, visiting mountains and waterfalls, nature exploration, community projects, building park benches, planting trees, etc. “We like to help create the conditions and environment for their intuitions and creativity to be ignited. We have a variety of social-emotional exercises to help the youth realize what’s “Natural vs Unnatural”, “Reality vs What We Made Up” “Truth vs IIlusions”, “Love vs Fear” and “Love vs Ego”. This helps them to understand which space they occupy the most. And of course, they know which space is best for them. All of us do, despite our age difference.”
They also use yoga, music, art, and storytelling as other tools to reach youth and help them to have an understanding of themselves and their environment and how to change their view of both – tools that can benefit them throughout their lives.
He talked about some of his success stories, including a young student in the program who went from what he called “ a very dark space, and into a very loving and productive space.”
The student’s parents were amazed and said, “the impact was immeasurable.” Love: No Ego helped pull their child out of a depression and restore his confidence. Jackson helped him secure a job, got him physically active, got him talking about his feelings, and his future, helping him to be a healthy and happy human again. “This young man is now an engineer with a local company in Charlottesville.”
The old saying it takes a village to raise a child still holds when communities can support youth in various ways.
“I think all businesses should open their doors to the youth. Offer hands-on mentoring, internships, and or on-the-job skills. The community should do the same and volunteer with your local youth organizations, become a mentor, and give back. Our giving should always reach just a bit further than our desire to want or to receive.”
Jackson goes to schools in places like Fluvanna and Albemarle to help students, His goal is to go wherever there is youth in need. Whether he is working one-on-one, in a group, or addressing them as a motivational speaker, he catches their attention when they are young before emotional damage takes root.
“We have to first meet them where they are, meaning that we show up with suspended judgment and a real vision for them,” he said. “It’s important that we be willing to look at our problems, trauma, and things that we’ve never healed from. Hurt people can help other people. However, when you’re willing to show up as your best self, and you’re checking the box of human before you check any other boxes of demographics, political status, race, religion, etc., we open the doors for healing, and for love to do what It naturally does.”
For anyone interested in learning more about what Freddy Jackson and Love: No Ego do visit www.lovenoego.org or www.mrlovenoego to contact him directly. To donate visit https://www.lovenoego.org/donate.
