MEET olivia abernathy

Olivia grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, but has been in Jackson since 2007 when she started attending Union University. She studied social work there and earned both a Bachelors and Masters degree from Union. She is a dedicated family gal married to Jon Abernathy. Together they raise two lovely daughters Avery and Annie who are in the Jackson Madison County School System.

In her day job she works as the Director of Early Education Initiatives at United Way of West Tennessee where she partners with community leaders and stakeholders to build high quality early care and education systems in West Tennessee. This is huge, inspiring work. She also now serves as a Madison County Commissioner representing District 2.

In addition to this over the years she has worked as a Family Advocate at Hands Up! Preschool where she oversaw family engagement initiatives and helped develop a scholarship structure that allowed for the first balanced budget in the nonprofit’s history. She has also served with Madison County Juvenile Court Services, worked as an academic counselor at Union University, and helped direct a support ministry to moms in the community called Baby University.

As both a mother to children in the public school system and as a social worker, Olivia has been a steady advocate for children in our community and for the Jackson Madison County School System. In 2021 she was appointed to the JMCSS ethics committee. She now serves as the chair of the Jackson Equity Project Education Committee and sought out certifications in school funding advocacy and Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Olivia’s expertise, leadership and passions: #education #government #non-profits #socialwork #equality #civilrights

“We have something beautiful and unique here in Jackson; it is hard to put words to. There’s a spirit of community and belonging here that can sometimes get lost in the noise and shuffle of modern life. Most of us genuinely want to see Jackson thrive and its people flourish. That’s why I’m so thankful for projects like Jackson Grown that bring that spirit of community to the forefront. Last year I saw Jackson Grown connect people, create places of belonging, and inspire commitment to good work. This kind of endeavor is the way forward to a brighter future.”

- Olivia abernathy

HI, I’M olivia…

What’s your favorite book?

“So hard! Most impactful- Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen. Book I most often return to- Why I Wake Early by Mary Oliver.”

What’s your favorite song or type of music?

“Well…I’m going to have to say 90s country music…I'm only a little ashamed to admit that :)”

There’s a lot of movies out there, but if you had to pick one…what would it be?

“The Shawshank Redemption. It’s a classic and really tough to beat in my opinion.”

You grew up in Arkansas just one state over but, since you moved here, what is one of your favorite memories of Jackson?

“For that, I’ll have to say pulling all-nighters at Perkins when I was studying for tests while at Union. So many scrambled eggs and cups of coffee were consumed at all hours back in those days.”

Who would you say is the most inspirational person you’ve ever met?

“Elaine Lee Turner. Elaine has an incredibly rich history in Memphis. Her family was named the "most arrested Civil Rights family in America". Elaine taught in Memphis schools and realized African American children didn't know their heritage as well as she hoped they would. She and her sister went on to create the Ida B. Wells Society and Heritage Tours, the first African American owned tour company in the state. She gave me the best historical tour I've ever been on, and I will never forget hearing her story. She was the embodiment of perseverance, determination, and selfless ambition.”

Life is an adventure. What has been the greatest adventure you have had?

“My grandparents took me to Alaska and we went whale watching, kayaking, salmon fishing, and dog sledding. It was awesome and my grandparents were the coolest!”

There are challenges that everyone faces. Some are hidden and some are more visible. What are some of the issuess and challenges you are particularly passionate about addressing?

“My biggest passion is equitable early education for our children. Our current early education system (for kids birth to five) is broken and inequitable, and it is a big driver of generational poverty. 90% of a child's brain is formed before they get to a Kindergarten classroom, yet many children have zero access to high quality experiences in these years. All children deserve a solid educational foundation, regardless of zip code, income, or other factors.”