Owner and counselor, Jimmie Jackson Intervention Services

I served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years as director of substance abuse programs at two bases. We helped with discrimination problems, substance abuse and family violence. I trained all over the world with the military.

I enjoy helping people. I’m a provider of human behavioral services including anger management, substance abuse counseling, domestic violence counseling, choice theory, parenting, divorce; many of my clients are referred to me by the Lake County courts.

I’ve always been involved with advocacy projects, but my main venture here is preventing domestic violence. I train both men and women not to be violent.

Some things people may not know about me is that I speak Turkish. Before entering the Air Force, I also attended Lake-Sumter State College for a little while, where I was one of the first minorities (if not the first) to be elected to student government.

I’m a dog person. We have a pet poodle at home.

My favorite book would have to be “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker.

In my spare time, I like to travel with my wife. My all-time favorite place is Izmir, Turkey; I lived there for a while during my time in the Air Force.

I’m a family man. I live in Leesburg with my wife, and we have four children, including a set of twins; my youngest child is 18 years old.

A Lake County native, I was born in Clermont.

I take a personalized approach to helping people. They come to me because I’m regularly available. You can get started today when you come to me; you don’t have to wait for a class. And most importantly, no one is ever turned away.

What I want more than anything is to promote the understanding of choice. People should be making the right choices in order to have fewer negative consequences.

PHOTO: Fred Lopez