Rev. Angeline C. Jackson

Personal Details

Bio

REV. ANGELINE C. JACKSON (she/her) is a corporate speaker, organizational transformation, and crisis leadership specialist. With 15+ years of executive leadership experience, she specializes in helping organizations build authentic cultures, navigate complex change, and create resilient teams in challenging environments.

As a regular presenter at Fortune 500 companies including Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Angeline combines her unique background in crisis management, international stakeholder engagement, and organizational psychology to deliver transformative insights on authentic leadership, personal resilience, and organizational cohesiveness.

Born in St. Ann, Jamaica, Angeline's expertise in crisis leadership was forged through international advocacy work in hostile environments, where she became a recognized expert in stakeholder engagement, change management, and building organizational resilience under pressure. Her work has been recognized by President Barack Obama and international human rights organizations.

Currently expanding expertise in organizational psychology and change management through advanced professional development, Angeline brings both practical experience and academic rigor to her speaking engagements. She holds an MBA in Information Technology and a Master of Divinity, combining business acumen with ethical leadership principles.

As a Lambda Literary Award finalist and author of "Funny Gyal: My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica," Angeline has been featured in Time Magazine, The Advocate, and numerous academic publications. Her corporate presentations focus on authentic transformation, crisis leadership, and building inclusive organizational cultures that drive both performance and employee engagement.

Whether addressing corporate executives on organizational resilience or LGBTQ+ communities on authentic living, Angeline's message centers on the power of authenticity, the necessity of courage in leadership, and the transformative potential of embracing change.

Angeline serves as Minister and CEO of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, where she leads organizational transformation initiatives while managing complex budgets and diverse stakeholder relationships.

Current position (5)

Minister & CEO

Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis

LGBTQ+ Expert Witness & Advocate

Corporate Speaker

Organizational Development Consultant

Founder, CEO & Director of Ministries

sUUstenance.LGBT

Achievements (1)

Lambda Literary Finalist

My book, Funny Gyal My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica, was a 2023 Finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards category for LGBTQ Young Adult.

Degrees (5)

Masters in Divinity

Meadville Lombard Theological School

2020 to 2023

Masters in Business Administration in Information Technology

John F. Kennedy University

2017 to 2020

Bachelor's of Arts in Management

Antioch University

2015 to 2016

Associate of Science in Computer Systems Technology

Vector Technology Institute

2007 to 2013

Diploma in Law

University of London

2009 to 2010

Presentations

Presentations (6)

Authentic Leadership in Crisis: Building Organizational Resilience

In today's volatile business environment, organizations need leaders who can maintain authenticity while navigating unprecedented challenges. Drawing from her experience leading change in hostile international environments, Rev. Angeline C. Jackson delivers powerful insights on crisis leadership, stakeholder engagement, and building organizational and personal resilience.

This presentation explores:
- Leading with authenticity during organizational crisis
- Building trust and credibility in complex stakeholder environments
- Creating psychological safety in high-pressure situations
- Developing personal resilience for sustained leadership effectiveness

Perfect for: Corporate leadership teams, executive retreats, change management initiatives, financial services organizations and any industry facing transformation challenges.

Living Boldly: Finding Yourself and Creating Transformation in an Uncertain World

In a world that often demands conformity, how do we find the courage to live authentically while creating meaningful change? Drawing from her journey as an LGBTQ+ activist, ordained minister, and author, Rev. Angeline C. Jackson shares powerful insights on discovering your true self, embracing growth through discomfort, and building the resilience needed to live with purpose and urgency. This inspiring presentation challenges audiences to move beyond survival mode into a life of authentic transformation.

Creating Organizational Cohesiveness in Challenging Environments

How do you build unified, high-performing teams when facing external pressure, internal resistance, or cultural transformation? This presentation challenges business leaders to move into transformative and adaptive leadership.

Key learning outcomes:
- Building team cohesion during uncertainty
- Communication techniques that create alignment across diverse stakeholders
- Transforming organizational culture in resistant environments
- Building inclusive cultures that drive performance and engagement
- Leading through change while maintaining organizational effectiveness

Ideal for: Human resources conferences, leadership development programs, merger/acquisition teams, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and organizations undergoing cultural transformation.

Beyond Adversity: Inspiring Change with Stories and Collaboration

Join Angeline C. Jackson, an esteemed LGBTQ+ rights advocate and organizational leader, as she delivers a captivating presentation on resilience and empowerment. With extensive experience as both an activist and corporate speaker, Angeline explores the crucial role of nurturing the next generation, the transformative potential in taking calculated risks, and the invaluable impact of fostering diverse collaborations.

Through poignant personal stories, Angeline demonstrates how individual narratives drive societal change. Whether you're organizing an event for students, educators, or nonprofit leaders, this talk ignites inspiration and empowers audiences to embrace social transformation through authentic storytelling.

Perfect for: Pride events, LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations, student groups, diversity conferences, and community celebrations.

The Power and Resilience of Lesbian Visibility

From standing in solidarity with gay men during the HIV and AIDS crisis to serving as change-makers in politics, activism, and the arts, lesbians have left an indelible mark on history and played an integral role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.

Angeline explores the pivotal moments and trailblazers, look at the unique challenges and barriers lesbians continue to face, and the progress and achievements of the community.

She also discusses the importance of visibility and advocacy in promoting equality for all LGBTQ+ individuals and how we can work together to create a more inclusive and supportive world.

Let us celebrate the power, resilience, and visibility of lesbians.

Courage Over Comfort: Living Your Truth and Changing the World

What happens when you choose courage over comfort and decide to live your truth, even when the world tells you to hide? This powerful motivational presentation takes audiences on a journey from fear to freedom, showing how authentic living becomes a catalyst for personal transformation and social change.

Through compelling personal stories and community examples, this inspiring keynote explores:
- Finding the courage to live authentically in hostile environments
- Transforming personal struggles into sources of strength and purpose
- Building resilience that not only survives but creates lasting change
- How individual authenticity inspires collective transformation
- Moving from isolation to community, from surviving to thriving

This presentation celebrates the power of authentic living while providing practical strategies for overcoming fear, building resilience, and creating positive change in your life and community.

Ideal for: Pride celebrations, personal development workshops.

Workshops (3)

Professional Ethics and Boundaries

Full day

Many people begin their careers with a clear sense of their interests, and desires, full of energy and enthusiasm. Over time they lose their shine, dulled by the stressors of work life, office/movement politics, despondency, and overwork. This creates fertile ground for boundary violations and misconduct. What if they could identify and articulate their boundaries and ethics before landing in the proverbial hot water?

A Queer Ethic For Activists And Spiritual Types

4 hours

What do liberatory ethics and leadership look like for activists? The workshop will explore: what are ethics, sources of ethics, living ethically, power and justice, and love. Learning about ethics from a purely academic perspective runs the risk of presenting an understanding of ethics removed from the day-to-day realities, resulting in one formed by people in places of privilege and power. This workshop seeks to help participants articulate an understanding of ethics based on their lived realities versus one based on rational abstractions only. At the end of the workshop participants will be able to define a queer ethic specific and unique to their context.

Strengthening Community Bonds Through The Exploration Of Emotions

4 hours

This workshop allows the LGBTQ community to explore their experiences of anger, fear, grief, love, and pleasure. Angeline explains the reason behind the exploration of each emotion and uses breakout sessions for deeper engagement with the experiences. The LGBTQ community has learned to live the dire realities of queer life without having opportunities or spaces to process the experiences and emotions that arise. Community bonds can become stronger if they can come together and explore their anger, fear, grief, love, and desire for pleasure.

Past talks (15)

Pride Month Fireside Chat with Rev. Angeline C. Jackson

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

June 4, 2025

Book Discussion: Funny Gyal, My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica

Funny Gyal Book Discussion

Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis

April 27, 2025

The Power and Resilience of Lesbian Visibility

Lesbian Day of Visibility

Virtual

April 26, 2023

With Wonder Film Premier and Panel Discussion

Jamaica

August 19, 2022

Speaking out for LGBTQ Youth

Diversity Stage Presentation - American Library Association Annual Conference

Virtual

June 7, 2022

Intimate Conviction: Examining the church and anti-sodomy laws across the Commonwealth

Kingston, Jamaica

October 13, 2017

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 17, 2016

Taboo... Yardies Film Screening

University of California, San Diego

October 20, 2015

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 15, 2015

On the Human Rights Frontier – The Global Struggle for LGBT Equality

Seattle, WA

May 13, 2015

Realizing the Right to Relate

June 7, 2014

Promoting Equality and Human Rights in Jamaica

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Washington, DC

May 21, 2014

Follow –Up Of The IACHR Report On The Human Rights Situation In Jamaica - 150th Ordinary Period Of Sessions

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Washington, DC

March 27, 2014

Youth Creating Change: Stories from the Global South

Creating Change Conference

Houston, TX

January 18, 2014

LGBT and Gender Inequality: Developing Gay-Straight Alliances to Counter Extremism

Women PeaceMakers Conference: Defying Extremism

University of San Diego

November 19, 2014

All (16)
Videos (3)
Photos (13)

- YouTube

Standing room only Funny Gyal book talk at the UU Church of Davis

Delivering a homily to Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church

Interrogating the Gaze of Unitarian Universalist Women Writers

Three Awards

Speaking at an IDAHOT event on Capitol Hill, DC

Angeline speaking at Mission Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation

LGBT Person of the Year 2022 Award Dinner Panel Discussion

Metropolitan Community Church Conference Panel Presentation

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Books & Articles (3)

Funny Gyal My Fight Against Homophobia in Jamaica

Dundurn Press,

2022

Is 'The Most Homophobic Place on Earth' Turning Around?

Op-ed: Access to Justice in Jamaica Is Sparse for LGBT Citizens

Expertise (15)

Social & Political

Leadership

Business

Clients

Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical Company

Fortune 500 Global Medical Device Company

Human Rights First

Alturi

Founders Metropolitan Community Church

Awards & certifications (4)

LGBT Advocate of the Year

Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays

2022

International Youth Icon

Florida Youth Pride Coalition

2017

Troy Perry Medal of Pride

2016

Hero Award

Jamaica

2015