• COVID-19 Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Promotions
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • May 9, 2025

Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

"THE NEWSPAPER YOU CAN TRUST SINCE 1964"

  • News
  • Editorials
  • Education
  • Urban Business
  • Health
  • Religion
  • Upcoming Events
  • Classifieds

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Community Continues to Celebrate Life of Youth Leader Quanita ‘Tay’ Jackson

September 5, 2020

By Princess Safiya Byers
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org.

Quanita “Tay” Jackson at a Moody Park basketball tournament on Aug. 24, 2019, the day before she was killed. (Photo by Mark Doremus)

More than a year has passed since Quanita “Tay”‘ Jackson was shot and killed near Moody Park, and the community continues to celebrate the legacy of the 20-year-old youth leader and organizer.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, community members rallied in Moody Park for a “Tay Day March” in honor of Jackson. They marched, shared stories and dedicated performances to her.

Known for her kindness, creativity and positive attitude, Jackson was killed near Moody Park on Aug. 25, 2019.

Those close to her are still coping with her death but have chosen to celebrate her life.

“We initially opened our doors for those mourning her and were not expecting how many people came out,” said Shalina Ali, the co-executive director of TRUE Skool, who worked with Jackson making music and mentoring those younger than her. “Now we have a mural of her up, and her music is a part of our soundtrack. That’s how we celebrate her.”

According to many, Jackson was talented and had innate leadership qualities.

“It’s cool to see people recognizing her talent,” said Jaylan Higgins, a friend and bandmate of Jackson’s. “I wish they would have done” it “while she was here, but it’s nice to see.”

Residents turn out this week for the “Tay Day March.” (Photo by
Princess Safiya Byers)

He, along with people Jackson worked with at TRUE Skool, a hip-hop nonprofit that serves Milwaukee youth, is working to get her unreleased music released.

“She made music about reversing the exact thing that took her life,” Ali said. “That will always hold a sense of irony to me.”

In the last year, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved a mural of Jackson to go up at the Moody Park basketball courts.

“In coming months, the backboards dedicated to her should be up,” said Vaun Mayes, a community activist. “And we are working on getting her community garden done.”

Jackson served as a youth ambassador for Mayes’ Program the Parks MKE campaign, which aims to tamp down violence in inner-city neighborhoods.

The day before she was killed, Jackson helped organize a three-on-three basketball tournament that drew a large crowd to Moody Park for hoops, food and music.

Jackson’s killing remains unsolved, and the Milwaukee Police Department continues to investigate. The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the shooting was increased to $100,000.

Anyone with information related to this case can contact the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7360 or call Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: PrincessSafiya Byers, Quanita Tay Jackson, Tay Day March

Read More - Related Articles

  • 7 Community Leaders Share Ideas About the Future of the Social Development Commission
  • ‘I just do it’: How Ameen Allen Gives Back to the Community
  • Evictions are Still High in Milwaukee Here’s What You Need to Know
  • NNS Spotlight: Teach For America Corps Member Brings His Love for Math to Milwaukee
  • The Housing Authority is Making Headlines Again. Here’s What you Need to Know
Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On X
Follow Us On X

Editorials

Lakeshia Myers
Michelle Bryant
Dr. Kweku Akyirefi Amoasi formerly known as Dr. Ramel Smith

Journalists

Karen Stokes

Topics

Health Care & Wellness
Climate Change
Upcoming Events
Obituaries
Milwaukee NAACP

Politicians

David Crowley
Cavalier Johnson
Marcelia Nicholson
Governor Tony Evers
President Joe Biden
Vice President Kamala Harris
Former President Barack Obama
Gwen Moore
Milele A. Coggs
Spencer Coggs

Classifieds

Job Openings
Bid Requests
Req Proposals
Req Quotations
Apts For Rent

Contact Us

Milwaukee Courier
2003 W. Capitol Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53206
Ph: 414.449.4860
Fax: 414.906.5383

Copyright © 2025 · Courier Communications | View Privacy Policy | Site built and maintained by Farrell Marketing Technology LLC
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.