Title: Co-founder and Executive Director
Company: Camino Al Exito Project For All Inc.
Location: Pawling, New York, United States
Shannon L. Jackson, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Camino Al Exito Project For All Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Community Advocacy.
Mr. Jackson has distinguished himself as a visionary leader and advocate for youth empowerment, most notably as the co-founder and executive director of Camino Al Exito Project For All Inc. Since 2021, he has dedicated his expertise to designing and implementing culturally responsive after-school programs for underserved youth in Pawling, New York, and surrounding communities. Under Mr. Jackson’s leadership, Camino Al Exito has grown from a grassroots initiative with six participants to a robust organization serving over 35 young people and impacting more than 1,000 families through mentorship, social-emotional learning, financial literacy education, and college and career readiness programming. His approach integrates relational leadership with structured strategies, ensuring that programming is both responsive to community needs and measurable in its outcomes.
A hallmark of Mr. Jackson’s work at Camino Al Exito is the development of alternative pathways for youth who may not pursue traditional college routes. By offering trade school opportunities and workforce entry guidance, he ensures that all participants have access to viable futures. The organization’s SMART goal framework supports youth in setting and achieving objectives over 90-day, six-month and long-term periods. Leadership enrichment roles allow program alums to return as ambassadors, fostering a cycle of mentorship within the community. Additionally, Mr. Jackson coordinates food distribution events that serve over 100 individuals per session, addressing immediate needs while building trust with families. His commitment to holistic support extends to wellness circles for parents and partnerships with local healthcare providers, bridging resource gaps across eastern Dutchess County.
In addition to his nonprofit work, Mr. Jackson established RNS Multi-Service in 2023. Recognized as a commercial cleaning company, it provides employment opportunities within the community while supporting a broader mission of service.
Before founding Camino Al Exito Project For All Inc., Mr. Jackson served as a department manager at a substance abuse and mental health institution in Carmel, New York, from 2018 to 2020. In this capacity, he managed casework operations and led teams supporting individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges. Mr. Jackson’s tenure was marked by a commitment to client-centered care until an injury sustained during an intervention led him to reevaluate his professional path.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Jackson was the head recreation coordinator at Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, New York, from 2015 to 2018. There, he mentored troubled youth through recreational programs designed to foster resilience and personal growth.
Mr. Jackson began his professional journey as an educator in Mount Vernon City School District, serving as a teaching assistant and sixth-grade general education teacher at Traphagen School from 2010 to 2014 and at A.B. Davis Middle School between 2014 and 2015. He also taught at Mizzentop Day School in Pawling, New York, during the early years of his career. These formative experiences shaped Mr. Jackson’s understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented youth and inspired his later work in nonprofit leadership.
Mr. Jackson’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Monroe University in Bronxville, New York, and a master’s degree in childhood education from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, New York. His advanced studies have provided him with a strong foundation for curriculum development and organizational leadership. Additionally, Mr. Jackson completed several certifications through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership at the school of social work at Adelphi University in program planning, strategic fund development, grant writing for success, post award implementation and building lasting relationships.
Active in his community, Mr. Jackson is a member of the Pawling Rotary Club and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he is involved in initiatives such as the Elevation of U Youth Development Program, supporting local youth development efforts.
Mr. Jackson’s achievements have been recognized with honors, including selection as an Edwin Gould Foundation Fellow, a distinction awarded following completion of an intensive 20-week fellowship focused on strategic work, pitching ideas and professional speaking. He attributes his success to the healing he has experienced through programs, such as Forgive to Live (now Project Light), which helped him understand generational trauma and prioritize emotional presence over material achievement.
However, the highlight of Mr. Jackson’s career has been witnessing Camino Al Exito Project For All Inc. evolve from an idea into a consistent source of support for youth and families. The inspiration for the organization emerged from shared experiences with his wife in teaching and their personal healing journeys, illuminating the broader needs within their community and motivated them to create pathways for others seeking guidance.
Looking ahead, Mr. Jackson envisions establishing a comprehensive community center in Pawling designed to foster personal growth, provide essential services, such as food distribution, and offer free after-school programming for low-income families through Elevation of Youth. Additionally, he aims to expand educational opportunities via Camino Al Exito’s Elevation of U school in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, and empower young people with skills ranging from social-emotional learning and financial literacy to modern competencies like artificial intelligence use so they can build lives filled with opportunity.
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