08 LC 95
0414
House
Resolution 1295
By:
Representatives Thomas of the
55th,
Holmes of the
61st,
Sinkfield of the
60th,
Brooks of the
63rd,
and Kaiser of the
59th
A
RESOLUTION
Honoring
the life of Dr. Jahti Jackson-Maasai; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Dr. Jahti Jackson-Maasai was born and raised in New York City, New York, during
the civil disobedience, urban unrest, and later the heroin plague of the 1950s
and 1960s;
WHEREAS,
Dr. Maasai learned early in life just what the damage that stress and toxins do
to the bodies and the psyche of oppressed people; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Maasai began his career in the fields of HIV and AIDS prevention and
substance abuse intervention, helping to shape drug prevention programs in the
New York City Public School System; and
WHEREAS,
after relocating to Atlanta in 1989, Dr. Maasai co-founded one of the first
Rites of Passage programs in Atlanta; and
WHEREAS,
based primarily in the inner city neighborhoods of Atlanta, Dr. Maasai focused
on youth development and community organization, and from his work there, a
realization took hold that one cannot change the community until one heals the
people living in it; and
WHEREAS,
the Spirit led Dr. Maasai to the Ahimki Center for Wholeness, founded by Dr.
Mark Armstrong; and
WHEREAS,
it was here that Dr. Maasai immersed himself in the Naturopathy Doctorate
Program, embracing the concept of “Healing the Planet One Person at a
Time," and he followed this concept throughout his life; and
WHEREAS,
Dr. Maasai co-created Man UP, a manhood development program in the inner city
communities of Atlanta that trains and lectures on the healing of men of African
descent, redirecting their warrior spirit to serve the family and
community.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, that the members of
this body join in honoring the life of Dr. Jahti Jackson-Massai and extend their
most sincere condolences to his family and friends.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Clerk of the House of Representatives is hereby
authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to
the family of Dr. Jahti Jackson-Maasai.