Jefferson Greene
To introduce Jefferson Greene as an Artist may or may not describe the real being of a overambitious creator. To describe Jefferson Greene as Educated may or may not describe the real being of a longstanding student. With such a strong determination to be successful, comforting and humble, Greene continues to land himself in projects he may have never dreamed of. From facilitating recording studios to facilitating community meetings, from research writing to creative writing, from paper designing to promotion designing, Greene continues to work toward making a difference in communities and in the lives who’ve made a difference in his.
Born and raised on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon, Greene has made every attempt to make sure his mass array of goals and objectives are passionately pursued and well thought out. His mother has explained and emphasized how interestingly creative her son had been throughout even his very young life, utilizing his imagination to take his playtimes to the fullest extent of reality.
Greene began drawing typical stick figures in preschool and then began adding shades to his drawings in elementary. After winning several drawing contests as an elementary student, his passion grew into descriptive writing pieces to go along with his drawings. Writing soon became another outlet for him to express and create. As years passed, his writing entered him in an international writing contest, taking him thousands of miles away from the reservation to the capital of Washington D.C., where he came home with an International Poet of Merit Award.
With all the creative aspects in his life, Greene still found himself experiencing the struggles of teenage years and growing pains. At the age of 15, living with cousins, and limited income, his value on life began to develop a currency as his income began coming from the outlets of reservation street dealings. Alcoholic beverages were easy purchases away that he and his friends spent many a nights regrettably drinking. After a couple more years in the lifestyle, suicide began to take its toll as he began to realize the illusion of success, friendships, and the value of life.
One night, while home alone, a .243 rifle was taken from his hunting gear and rested upon his lap as he sat on his bed with a bullet in hand. To make sure he was ready for the experience, the butt of the rifle was placed on his bedroom floor. Sitting on the bed, Greene placed the barrel of the rifle below his chin to where he felt was comfortably below his tongue. Taking the gun away from its resting place, Greene placed the bullet inside the chamber for action, but after sudden realization of what was to happen next, funeral arrangements, and what life would be like without him, the pursuance slowed. Soon, his realization that 4 to 5 days later life would go on and forever began to open his eyes that he had not accomplished much in his life besides the purchase of a car, two cell phones, a little bit of recording equipment, and somewhat of a delusional social life. He realized that he would only be known for his lifestyle, inconsiderableness, and pot smoking habit. Then and there, Greene decided to make something out of his life and literally thought that he should do something with his life so that the time would then be right to leave. But instead of fighting his delusional social life, he accepted it and its untrustworthiness. He put full efforts into his dream of the entertainment business, continuing the life he lived. The lifestyle erupted in street brawls, intimidation efforts, constant paranoia, weaponry, and an attempt on his life in 2001, landing him in the hospital for several days.
Although leading the lifestyle he did, college had always been a for sure deal with Greene, and with the financial support his tribe had provided, there was no re-consideration. Greene looked at college as literally another grade level in education, starting at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, OR the fall after high school graduation in 2002. Still dependant on his business, he studied economics and business, developing a strong understanding of demand and supply, pricing fluctuations, and cost reductions.
But as the years went by, his business began to fall into his past as his determination to succeed began to erupt, co-founding the still existent Chako Kumtux student group, coordinating a MEChA chapter, and transferring to Portland State University on a journey toward his Bachelor’s Degree. Throughout his years of school he has worked with the United Indian Students in Higher Education (UISHE) as a coordinator and with the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) as a member. Both organizations cater to minority high school youth students to encourage them to pursue a higher education during and after senior high, and educating youth on culture and history. After 6 years in school, Jefferson Greene received a triple major Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, Marketing Management, & Advertising Management.
Although busy with several classes and homework, Greene found several ways to cater to his entrepreneurial and creative needs;
- In 2002, Sacred Ground Entertainment (SGE) was born on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon to cater to his ambition to manage hip-hop music.
- In 2004, a small home recording facility The Ground Studio opened its doors in east Portland, OR to cater to his recording demand.
- In 2005, regionally known music production company Gold Mind Productions was also born in the city of Portland, OR to cater to his ambition to produce enthusiastic lyrists.
- In 2006, independently known Sacred Ground Publishing emerged to cater to his interest in the printing of arts.
- In 2008, a locally known marketing and promotions agency First Nation Media was born to cater to his artistically creative influences.
With new ventures always looming inside of his ever thinking and creative mind, Greene still has the ability to share his most caring and loving moments with his inspirational 3-year-old baby boy born in 2005.
Over the years, Jefferson Greene has helped to produce highly demanded and anticipated products. Greene accomplished becoming the Head Recording Engineer/Producer for The Apollo Sound Productions in Beaverton, OR, recorded, mixed, and produced several musicians throughout the Willamette Valley in Oregon, was elected the Chairman for the 2008 33rd Annual Northwest Indian Youth Conference, and even envisioned and implemented the sidewalk clean-up efforts in the biggest neighborhood on his reservation.
“My ambitions have evolved over the years into true and passionate ventures. For me, even my smallest Dreams have become a reality, so I continue to think up new ones that fit into the overall dream. There are no hopes because in reality my goals are reachable. What is there to hope for if people believe in themselves enough to know the outcome? Life goes on and my ambitions grow. They are embedded into the person that I have become over the years to make a difference in not only communities, but in the people and in the world. If and when I pass on to another world, I would prefer to have passed on as someone who worked to make a difference in the issues that in my mind made life trying and inconsiderate for others on a worldly scale.’
Greene’s passion and ambition lie in the industries of music, entertainment, marketing, advertising, and economics. His interest in environmental sustainability and consciousness, cultural awareness, and community activism has also sparked his current project to help re-organize the recycling efforts of his home area of Central Oregon.
Jefferson Greene would soon like to pursue a Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business Management. He currently works in Oregon for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and his Sacred Ground Entertainment.
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