My Favorite quote:
“It seems to me that among the several wars being waged around the planet, one is paramount and surpasses in urgency all the others. That is the War Against Error.” – Toni Morrison
Robert Azeem Jackson III is an Afro-futurist cultural strategist, data scientist, and founder of Cypher, an innovation studio helping Black communities, youth-serving agencies, and mission-driven organizations build systems that preserve memory, protect identity, and empower future generations. His work sits at the powerful intersection of technological innovation and ancestral storytelling, grounded in the belief that “the future is built on the stories we choose to remember.”
Rob’s TEDx talk on remembrance has become a cornerstone of his public voice, blending personal narrative with a philosophical exploration of how family stories shape belonging and selfhood. On the Educate U.S. podcast, he expanded this framework into a broader cultural and generational conversation, defining collective remembrance as a form of community infrastructure. In a subsequent Educate U.S. appearance, he advanced this work into the digital realm — reimagining privacy, AI, and data sovereignty as issues of cultural legacy and identity protection.
With a background in data systems, anthropology, and community work, Rob partners with institutions to build futures that are technologically advanced and deeply human. His mission is to create a world where Black and marginalized families inherit truth, not erasure — and where remembrance becomes a strategy for liberation.
Public Speaking Highlights
Mayor of Moorestown NJ, Mayorathon Day 3 X Robert Jackson – West End Community Center
Day 3 of the Mayorathon spotlights the West End Community Center Oral History Project with Robert Jackson. In this livestream, Robert Jackson discusses the effort to preserve and share the history of the West End Community Center, a vibrant cultural and social hub for Moorestown’s historically Black West End neighborhood from 1944–1968. Through oral histories, photographs, and artifacts, this project honors the stories of community members who built and sustained a place of belonging during segregation, ensuring that this important piece of Moorestown’s history is not forgotten.
This week’s event also raises support for Inspiring Life Together, a nonprofit supporting moms and families facing breast cancer.
2nd Appearance The Educate US Podcast (audio below) – 12.1.25
Patrice & Stacey welcome back in Robert Jackson, afrofuturist & data scientist, to discuss the concept of privacy, how it is affecting generations both old and young, the ever-changing technological advancements in society today such as AI & more.
Appearance The Educate US Podcast (audio below) – 06.2025
Patrice & Stacey welcome in Rob, an afrofuturist & poet, as he reflects on his personal story of loneliness and the importance of collective memory. Jackson emphasizes the power of shared memories in fostering community and identity. He speaks about how holding on to family stories that helped him break his isolation and inspired his work for Remembrance Day, a concept aimed at elevating elders and creating mutual holidays for collective remembrance.
TEDx Jacksonville 2024 | The Overlap – 11.2024
Rob was invited to the TED stage to discuss his movement for Remembrance Day, a campaign for a national holiday dedicated to the our elders, their stories and how we choose to remember each other through storytelling and collective remembrance in its many forms.
Appearance: The Missing Year Project Podcast (audio below) – 06.2021
Rob is invited to the podcast project to discuss his dreams for himself, his parents and how we all posses within us a vision for the future that we can claim today, even when all seems lost.
Closing Remarks: Georgetown University Community Scholars & The Radical Imagination (audio below) – 03.2021
Rob delivers a conclusion speech to Georgetown Universities Community Scholars as they embark on the challenge of being 1st generation freshman during COVID. Rob overs a path to turning your “mess” into your mission.
Reference Quotes
Dr. Kirkland | Dean NYU / ED of Metro Center
“Rob is going to get this project done, period.”
Stephen Schoepfer | NYC DOE Data Manager :
“this dude knows his sh@t, he’s passionate about the content, knowledgeable and advanced with the technical aspects, ability to present and define high quality metrics, reporting is made clear and understandable for varied audiences…
working with [him] was a learning experience for me as well cause [he’s] on-point with data and content. Got stuff done in timely fashion, worked with people on whatever was needed, and was able to present good quality reports..“
Liz Fitzgerald | ACLU Director of Development
“Your work is a game changer”