Jackson hopes to team with Oprah

[rjman_afan]

By Marthe Stinton, Published: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 11:19 PM CDT

In life, there are several sources of inspiration. Some have faith, some have family, but Cheryl Jackson of Plano has Oprah Winfrey.

Jackson, founder of Minnie's Food Pantry, said she saw the good deeds of her parents and wanted to follow in their footsteps. She did so by creating Minnie's Food Pantry.

"Minnie's Food Pantry is named after my mom, Minnie Ewing," Jackson said. "I started it after my father passed away four years ago. I've been homeless, in need of food and hungry, but the way I was treated when I needed help - I never wanted anyone else to feel that way."

Cheryl has continued her entrepreneurial journey in the Collin County area and, after hearing advice from an unusual source, now has her sights set on TV.

"When I met Oprah she said, 'Cheryl, pursue your passion,' and she was right," Jackson said.

After meeting Oprah on several occasions - nine, to be exact - Jackson will have the opportunity to audition for the Queen of Talk's casting crew for the chance to have her own talk show.

In May, Jackson was in New York for Oprah's "Live Your Best Life" workshop. Before she boarded the plane, Jackson said she double-checked to be sure she had a copy of her upcoming book titled, "Because I said So." One of the chapters is about Oprah Winfrey and the nine times Jackson has personally encountered the Queen of Talk.

When Oprah visited the State Fair of Texas last year, Jackson and her friend were dancing on the front row. Jackson also told Oprah about the time she was chosen to stand in front of her studio audience in Chicago and the audience coordinator asked Jackson to walk through the doors that Oprah did, and they told the audience to pretend that Jackson was Oprah.

Now Jackson has a chance to make her dream come true. Oprah is searching for talent for her new OWN network, and she is giving one person the opportunity to host their own show. Her crew is coming to Plano for the open casting call, which is fewer than two miles from Jackson's house. Jackson says she will definitely be in line for the audition. "I know I was born to do this," said Jackson.

I know they are looking for someone the world would connect with," Jackson said. "I can be entertaining and fun. I can laugh with you and cry with you. It's not by chance they are coming to my city. They are coming for me. I have seen this moment, and I will represent Plano and the state of Texas very well, but I can't do it without the votes."

Jackson said this has been an incredible year for her. She was a Parade Grand Marshal, and in December when Minnie's Food Pantry experienced a collapse in the ceiling, the entire community came together to show support.