Sharon Diggs-Jackson has dedicated her life to advancing equality, justice, and opportunity through public service, civic leadership, and the preservation of African American history. Her commitment to social justice began as a student participating in the Long Beach Unified School District's voluntary desegregation program in the late 1960s and early 1970s, an experience that shaped her lifelong belief in equity, inclusion, and community empowerment.

Her distinguished career spans leadership roles with IBM, more than two decades with the City of Long Beach, and seven transformative years in Selma, Alabama—the birthplace of the modern Voting Rights Movement. While in Selma, she helped organize the 50th Anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March and worked with the National Voting Rights Museum, contributing to the preservation of one of America's most significant civil rights legacies.

In Long Beach, Sharon became the first civilian crime analyst hired by the Long Beach Police Department, helped establish the City's Neighborhood Nuisance Abatement Program, and later served as the Long Beach Airport's Public Affairs and Noise Officer, balancing community interests with responsible economic development.

As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Elite Skills Development, Sharon has empowered hundreds of underserved youth through entrepreneurship, leadership development, and life-skills education, creating pathways to self-sufficiency and economic opportunity.

A Founding Board Member and Exhibit Curator of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach, Sharon has led the creation of groundbreaking exhibits that preserve and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the city's history. She also serves as a leader in developing the Long Beach Historically Black Cultural District, ensuring that these stories remain visible for future generations.

Her service extends through leadership with the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion, the Long Beach Independent Redistricting Commission, the Long Beach City College Citizens' Oversight Committee, and numerous racial equity and reconciliation initiatives. Through every chapter of her career, Sharon Diggs-Jackson has championed justice, expanded opportunity, and strengthened communities, leaving a lasting legacy of equity, civic leadership, and service.