CREATIVE PLACE

Our Mission

Our mission at CMA is to protect the psychological, spiritual and emotional well-being of our students while ensuring that they not only complete their academic experience, but that they gain mastery along the way in the following areas: academics, the performing arts, the business of the arts and building meaningful connections with God, themselves, and each other.

Tajuana Jackson

Tajuana TJ Butler-Jackson has toured to various colleges and universities, conferences, and bookstores promoting her novels through the years and has been interviewed by various radio and television talk show hosts throughout the U.S. Her stops have included the Essence Festival, all four NPHC Sorority Conventions, The National Black Arts Festival, Congressional Black Caucus, and the Black MBA Conference. She has spoken for the American Business Women's Association in Atlanta and the Alpha Kappa Alpha International Regional Conference. She has also spoken or conducted workshops at the University of Maryland-College Park, Columbia University, Clark Atlanta University, Mississippi State and Florida A&M University, to name a few. Mrs. Butler-Jackson and her books have been featured in Essence Magazine, Upscale, Today’s Black Woman, Honey Magazine, NV Business Magazine, Black Issues Book Review, Black Book Review and Publisher’s Weekly.

She launched Lavelle Publishing in 1997 with the release of her first poetry book, The Desires of A Woman: Poems Celebrating Womanhood at the age of 26 years old. Butler published her second book Sorority Sisters in 1998. Sorority Sisters was picked up by Villard Books, a division of Random House and re-released in 2000. Over 80,000 copies have been sold. She has also authored, Essence Bestselling Novel, Hand-me-down Heartache, The Night Before Thirty and Just My Luck.

TJ launched Butlertown Productions, an organization that produces via a variety of mediums, in 2005. Butlertown’s projects have included the Tajuana “TJ” Butler Sisterhood Cruise 2005. The cruise departed Miami, Florida and cruised to Nassau, Bahamas August 5-8th; short films, Discovered and Inside Perspective; Hand-me-down Heartache The Musical, which played May and September 2012; the unreleased Hand-me-down Heartache Music CD; and the STANDUP Leadership Conference for men and young men, every May with husband, Nationally Renowned Speaker and Author, Robert Jackson. She and Robert hosted the 1st Speaker/Writer Workshop this year.

Butler currently resides in Atlanta with her husband, Robert Jackson, and their children Ava Simone, Alyvia Rae and Robert Tye. She has a passion for growing spiritually and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Robert Jackson

For every problem, there is a solution is Mr. Jackson’s motto. He began his teaching career 27 years ago in Indianapolis Public Schools with a No More Excuses teaching approach with all of his students after being cut from the NFL Minnesota Vikings. He set high expectations for his students and expected them to do well by teaching and coaching them how to use their circumstances as steppingstones into their futures. Those same students went from low performing to successful Pastors, Lawyers, School Administrators, Teachers, Pharmaceutical Sales Reps, Business Owners, Pro Athletes, Entertainers and more. He has become one of the most sought-after speakers in the country, delivering keynote addresses and workshops to educators, administrators, parents and students, corporate events and churches. He has become an expert in teaching cultural diversity, restorative practices, socio emotional learning, working with students who have experienced trauma, motivating educators and how to educate Black and Latino males. His goal is to teach educators and administrators how to use their power more effectively to Educate, Activate and Motivate all Students to be Successes.

Mr. Jackson has written and published 7 books and has written articles for ASCD EL Leadership Magazine. His ASCD book, “Becoming the Educator They Need: Strategies, Mindsets, and Beliefs for Supporting Male Black and Latino Students” won the Gold Excel Award for Technical Writing. His “No More Excuses” Curriculum has been featured in publications nationally and is being utilized in K-12 Schools, Colleges and Universities in the US and Canada. His 7th book, For Mothers Raising Sons, was just released.

He attended Western Kentucky University where he received his BS Degree in Industrial Technology while lettering 4 years in both Football and Track. After being cut from the NFL he was broken himself and understands the importance of educators and administrators being sensitive to students who have experienced trauma and let downs. He teaches solutions while remaining deeply rooted in his commitment to serve his community as a speaker and mentor. He has keynoted and conducted workshops at many national and international conferences.

Mr. Jackson is a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and the NFL Players Association. He has received numerous awards for his work. 1000’s of youth and adults are being transformed through his speeches and presentations.

He is married to Essence Best Selling Author, Tajuana “TJ” Butler-Jackson and they have 3 children and 2 Grandkids.

“His motto is, “For Every Problem, there is a Solution.”