August 7, 1975, was Jimmy Carter’s first grandchild’s birthday. His grandfather went on to become the 39th President of the United States about two years later. His parents, Jack and Judy Carter, continued to live in Georgia while the rest of the Carter family relocated to the White House. Community service, a principle that runs deep in the Carter family, molded his early years. From an early age, his gregarious demeanor made a lasting impression, and he gained recognition for his charisma and determination. Coming from an activist family, he was raised with a strong feeling of duty to serve others.

Atlanta, Georgia is the birthplace of Jason Carter. His birth actually occurred in the city’s hospital, which subsequently became part of his state Senate district, despite the popular belief that he was born in Calhoun, Georgia, where his parents were living at the time. Jason and his parents stayed in Georgia, but the rest of the Carter family—Jimmy’s daughter Amy and sons Chip and Jeff—moved into the White House following the 1976 election. Jason’s upbringing was greatly influenced by the community and family that characterized his father’s existence at the Calhoun law office.

The divorce of Jason’s parents in 1989 brought about a dramatic change in his early years. His mother wed Robert Thompson, a pastor of Evanston, Illinois’s Lake Street Church, the following year. As a result, the dynamics of the family changed, with Jason living in a blended home.

Thompson’s two children, Sarah and Leah, as well as his younger sister Sarah made up their family. Jason never wavered in his commitment to assisting others, even in the face of these upheavals. Being up in a household where performing community work was not only required but also encouraged, Jason was exposed to activism at a young age.Judy, his mother, was employed by the Ounce of Prevention Fund, which gave impoverished kids access to healthcare and education. One of the few shelters for the homeless on Chicago’s north side was operated by his stepfather’s church.

Jason and his siblings were part of these activities on a regular basis, lending a hand at outreach initiatives run by their parents and at racial reconciliation services. Jason’s early years shaped his desire to help others, but his gregarious nature and innate leadership skills soon became apparent. These traits and his striking likeness to his well-known grandfather did not take long to become even more apparent. Jason was an extroverted and talkative child who made an impression from an early age.

Even in elementary school, when he broke the record for selling frozen pizzas at a school fundraiser, his innate charisma and confidence were evident. Not many kids his age had the courage to pick up the phone and ask for help, but Jason’s mother remembers this as one of his many admirable qualities. Jason’s determination and desire would not go away as he grew older.