Let's Talk Jackson: Jackson, Mississippi

Dr. Joy Hogge is the executive director of Families as Allies, a nonprofit organization based here in Jackson. Joy Hogge has a master’s degree and a Ph.D in counseling psychology from Texas A&M University. She’s been the executive director of Families as Allies since 2011, where she oversees the development, implementation and assessment of family-driven, community-based services that support children with mental health challenges and their families.

Our guest this episode is Dr. Robert Luckett, a Jackson native who graduated from Richland Public Schools, left for Yale University, earned his PhD in history from the University of Georgia and returned to Jackson 12 years ago to be a history professor at Jackson State University and the director of the Margaret Walker Center at JSU. Dr. Luckett is a member of the Jackson Public Schools school board, was part of a team involved in the Mississippi History Museum and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, and the author of the book "Joe T. Patterson and the White South’s Dilemma: Evolving Resistance to Black Advancement."

Nashlie Sephus is a Jackson native who graduated from Jackson Public Schools to ultimately go on to earn a PhD in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. She worked in Atlanta as a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of a startup company, Partpic, that was ultimately acquired by one of the world’s largest technology companies. Her Jackson-based nonprofit, the Bean Path, is celebrating it’s two-year anniversary soon, and she’s working on a new live-work development near downtown Jackson that promises maker spaces, restaurants and an unprecedented creative environment in Jackson. https://thebeanpath.org/ https://twitter.com/phenomenashlie http://www.phenomenash.org/

Our guest in this episode is Betsy Bradley is the director of the Mississippi Museum of Art. Originally from Greenville, Miss. https://msmuseumart.org/index.php/ This was actually the second time we recording this interview — the first was right before the coronavirus pandemic hit, and things changed so rapidly that we had to pull the episode. We spoke about the launch of a new exhibition featuring works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas, as well as the protocols for visiting the museum and some plans for outdoor events and exhibitions this fall.

In this special edition of Let’s Talk Jackson, Todd Stauffer spoke with Mr. Timothy Rush, who is Director of Reemployment Assistance at the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Todd spoke with Mr. Rush about the current state of the MDES system, what they’ve gone through to deal with tens of thousands of suddenly unemployed people, including questions of who is getting federal stimulus dollars and what it means when you get a debit card with no money on it. We recorded the interview via Zoom during a busy day, so please excuse the sound quality. https://www.mdes.ms.gov/

In this special edition of Let’s Talk Jackson, state report Nick Judin spoke with Dr. Thomas Dobbs. Dr. Dobbs is leading the public-health response to the COVID-19 crisis, directing the State Department of Health and serving as Gov. Tate Reeves’ chief health adviser on the virus and the state’s attempts to stem its spread. https://msdh.ms.gov/ https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/19,19972,161.html Nick spoke with Dr. Dobbs specifically about the racial disparities that are appearing in the COVID-19 numbers—both the number of cases and the number of deaths, as well as what the Health Department is trying to do about it.

Show links: - https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ - https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp - https://www.uschamber.com/report/covid-19-emergency-loans-small-business-guide - https://www.thecarsonlawgroup.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_BZdKX_Luc In this special edition of Let’s Talk Jackson, Todd Stauffer talks with David Humphreys, a local attorney with the Carson Law Group who has two decades of commercial law and litigation experience.  David earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Accounting, and Bachelor’s Degrees in both Economics and Business Administration, all from Rhodes College. We talked about issues that small businesses in Jackson are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, including some loans and grants that you can apply for thanks to the CARES Act that passed in late March. We also talked about employment issues, unemployment issues and some legal questions that we’ve been fielding through this trying time.

Alesha Judkins is the State Director for Criminal Justice Reform at Fwd.us, a bipartisan group founded by leaders in the technology and business communities seeking meaningful reform in the areas of immigration and criminal justice. She spoke with Jackson Free Press editor-in-chief Donna Ladd about the fact that Mississippi has the third highest level of incarceration, and how that’s affecting public safety and crime rates. https://www.fwd.us/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesha-judkins-46a373101/

Merritt Baria is a 23-year-old political strategist in Mississippi who grew up in Jackson and on the Gulf Coast, and is now living back in the capital city. The daughter of outgoing Mississippi House Minority Leader David Baria, Merritt talks with Donna Ladd about the need for more women to run for office in the state and for strategists to take a wider view of who is a “viable” candidate or not. She plans to help more women, in particular, run for and win office as she did with incoming House Rep. Shanda Yates. Merritt Baria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merritt-baria-73b426a3/

Dr. Mukesh Kumar is an associate professor at Jackson State University who recently finished a two-year stint as the director of planning and development for the City of Jackson. He sat down with Todd Stauffer to discuss his time with the City and both what the discipline of planning can and can't do to improve the quality of life in a place like Jackson. https://www.jxnplanning.com/ http://www.jsums.edu/planning/

Arekia Bennett is Executive Director of Mississippi Votes, which works to get young people involved in voting. Arekia graduated from Bailey Magnet High School and got her bachelors degree in Physics from Jackson State University. While at JSU, she got heavily involved in activism and advocacy, largely around women’s reproductive issues and issues affecting women of color. She spoke with editor-in-chief Donna Ladd about her work in getting young people and people of color engaged in the democratic process. https://msvotes.org/

Shanda Yates is a 38-year old attorney and mother who surprised a lot of people this year by winning the Mississippi House seat in district 64 over long-time Republican incumbent Bill Denny. One of Mississippi Democrats only bright spots on election night, Shanda knocked on thousands of doors and focused on issues important to her as a Millennial, a woman, a mother and as a product of public schools. She talked about how it all came together with Jackson Free Press’ editor in chief, Donna Ladd. https://www.facebook.com/shanda.yates.7

Dr. Karla McCullough graduated from Callaway High School in Jackson in the mid-1990s and then immediately left the state, getting her undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University in Psychology and a masters in public administration from Auburn University. After having a son and feeling the tug of home, she return to Mississippi, where she got a PhD in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. She’s the executive director of the Juanita Simms Doty Foundation, which offers, among other initiatives, the Evers Academy for African American Males, which is a program to inspire young men of color to honor the life and legacy of slain civil rights work Medgar Evers as they interact with a “village” of role models and mentors. http://jsdfoundation.com/

In this episode of Let's Talk Jackson Politics, Donna Ladd speaks with Mike Morgan, Hinds County Supervisor from District 4, who is running as an Independent to retain his seat against Democratic candidate Vern Gavin. He spoke with Donna about his corporate experience at WorldCom and Bomgar Corporation, his transition to politics, his experience as a Hinds County supervisor and what he feels the city and county need going forward. https://www.facebook.com/MikeMorganforHindsCounty https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/politics/

Jackson City Council President Virgi Lindsay is the only woman among Jackson’s elected officials who are facing massive challenges with the capital city’s infrastructure, budget, zoo and loss of residents. In this episode of Let’s Talk Jackson, she spoke candidly about these issues as well as about growing up among rocket scientists, being a woman leader and her time as a Clarion-Ledger reporter back when it won a Pulitzer Prize. She spoke with JFP’s Donna Ladd about the challenges in her ward of the City of Jackson, which extends from her neighborhood Belhaven into parts of west and south Jackson. Here’s Donna. Virgi Lindsay's City of Jackson page: https://www.jacksonms.gov/index.aspx?nid=531

For Let’s Talk Jackson, I’m Todd Stauffer. In this episode, Donna Ladd spoke with Dr. Judy Meredith, a former TV and radio news reporter and anchor and also a former journalism professor at Jackson State University. Judy Meredith recently completed a documentary about her husband, called "Who is James Meredith" and she discussed the film, her husband, and her own life and career with Let's Talk Jackson’s Donna Ladd.

In this special episode sponsored by the Mississippi Museum or Art, we recorded this podcast in front of a live audience at the Museum on Sept 10th, 2019 as a part of Art Nights, which is sponsored by Baker Donalson. Our host was Maisie Brown, a Murrah high school senior who recently took a position as Youth Program Director & Communications Associate for the Institute for Democratic Education in America. Maisie was joined on stage by the Museum's curator of American art, ELIZABETH ABSTON, along with DR. RASHELL SMITH-SPEARS, an associate professor of English Literature at Jackson State University, and JEFFREY CALIEDO, also a senior at Murrah High School, who was crowned the ACT-SO National Champion of Written Poetry by the NAACP for his poem “Igneous.” He wrote and read a poem in response to the Margaret Walker poem, “This is My Century: Black Synthesis of Time” the poem that serves as inspiration for the museum’s new exhibition, title “New Symphony of Time.” https://msmuseumart.org/index.php/exhibitions/exhibition/new-symphony-of-time

Jordan Butler is vice president of education and training at Refill Jackson, the non-profit that runs the new Refill Cafe near downtown and Jackson State University. She visited with JFP publisher Todd Stauffer to talk more about the Refill Jackson workforce development program and this exciting new economic development project for the city. https://refillcafejackson.com/ https://www.facebook.com/RefillCafeJackson

In this episode of Let’s Talk Jackson, JFP Editor-in-Chief talks to Alana Willis, the younger sister of the late Cedric Willis. Alana talks about her brother’s 12-year false imprisonment from 1994 to 2006 and the effect that had on their family and her as a child. They also discuss Cedric’s recent murder after being free for 13 years. In this emotional podcast, Willis also talks about her own sexual assault as a child. She challenges Jackson residents to do more to prevent violence. jfp.ms/cedric_willis/

Dr Errick Greene has been superintendent of the Jackson Public School district for less than a year. He previously served as the Chief of Schools of Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma. Dr. Greene has a doctoral degree in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania; two master’s degrees in Education — one from Trinity University and another from Howard University; and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University. JPS recently released their strategic plan for improving the grades they receive as a district and working to improve the quality of education provided to what Dr. Greene calls their “scholars.” He spoke with Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd. JPS: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/ JPS Superintendent page: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/1252 Photo courtesy Jackson Public Schools

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd spoke with Patty Patterson, who is in the runoff for Hinds County District 5 Supervisor; her opponent is the incumbent, Bobby McGowan. Patterson graduated from Jackson State University in 1986 with a degree in Business Management; she’s a volunteer on many local boards and causes, as well as the owner of Repurposed Projects, a business that upcycles reclaimed wood into furniture. Her platform focuses on improving roads, improving public safety, funding education and promoting entrepreneurship. https://www.votepattypatterson.com http://jfp.ms/politics/

In this episode in our limited series for for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd speaks with Vicki Slater, a candidate for the Mississippi House of Representatives in District 56, which serves western Madison County shooting over from Gluckstadt up to Flora; down to a stretch of Hinds County on the west side of Hwy 49, reaching down to Clinton. Slater, an attorney who lives in Madison County, hopes to get through the primary and challenge Phillip Gunn, the incumbent, who also happens to be Speaker of the House. https://www.facebook.com/SlaterforMississippi http://jfp.ms/politics/

As Pamela Junior takes over the position as director of both the Mississippi History Museum and the Mississippi Civil Right Museum, she sat down with Donna Ladd to talk about growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, what her experience has been so far teaching history as director of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum—and how the information presented in the Two Museums makes it possible to “meet people where they are” are potential help build a new future for Mississippi. Museum of Mississippi History: https://mmh.mdah.ms.gov/ Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: https://mcrm.mdah.ms.gov/ This episode is brought to you by the Center for Art & Public Exchange at the Mississippi Museum of Art. More at http://museumcape.org/.

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, state reporter Ashton Pittman spoke with Senator Hillman Frazier, who is running for re-election in Mississippi’s 27th district, representing a large part of West Jackson and most of the Clinton area. Senator Frazier first entered the legislature as a member of the House in 1980; he’s been in the Mississippi Senate since 1993, where he’s the chairman of the Housing committee and vice-chair of Universities and Colleges; he also sits on the Appropriations, Judiciary A and Public Health and Welfare committees, among others. https://www.facebook.com/htfrazier/ http://jfp.ms/politics/

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, Ashton Pittman spoke with Dr. Edelia Carthan, a candidate for Mississippi House District 71, a seat currently held by Ronnie Crudup. Jr. after a special election this spring. Dr. Carthan, who is a professor at Tougaloo College, says that as a resident of District 71, she’s familiar with its needs, and will focus on issues such a fully funding education, supporting women's rights, improving access to healthcare, and focusing on infrastructure, small business support and much more. https://www.electedeliadrjaycarthan.com/ http://jfp.ms/politics/

Richard Spooner has been a US Marine, UMMC campus police officer, and then a Hinds County sheriff’s deputy for 21 years. He retired in 2015 and now works for the Baptist Hospital system in security. He spoke with Donna Ladd about his long experience in the Sheriff’s office, his approach to leadership and some of the things he would get done soon after taking office. http://spoonerforsheriff.com/ http://jfp.ms/politics/

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd talked with Colendula Green, a candidate for Sheriff in Hinds County. Green currently serves as the public information officer for the Jackson Police Department, where she’s the first women ever in the role. She’s been in law enforcement for 14 years, with a bachelors degree in criminal justice and a masters degree in elementary education, both from Jackson State University. In her platform for sheriff, she’s focused on something she’s been known for as a JPD officer — increasing community engagement and outreach to citizens. She says she’ll increase transparency, bring the Hinds detention centers into compliance and work on the Sheriff’s department’s accountability. https://www.cgreen4sheriff.com/ http://jfp.ms/politics/

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd talked with Darla Palmer, a candidate for District Attorney in Hinds County. Palmer has been a public defender, a prosecutor, an attorney in private practice, and a staff attorney for the city of Jackson. She’s running for district attorney because she’s concerned about the rise in violence crime in Jackson and she’d like to see cases move more quickly through the district attorney’s office. She’s also running on her determination to instill a sense of respect in the DA’s office and its ability to bring criminals to justice. https://www.facebook.com/DarlaforDA/ http://jfp.ms/politics/

In this episode of our special series for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd talked with Stanley Alexander, a candidate for Hinds County District Attorney. Alexander is a Democrat who currently serves as the Director of the Public Integrity Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s office. There he has prosecuted police officers who shot unarmed people; public corruption by officials… and even current Hinds DA Robert Shuler Smith. He calls the system “broken” and wants to overhaul the system to speed up trials and reduce the jail backlogs. He was previously an assistant DA in then-DA Faye Peterson’s office and points out that he is the only candidate for Hinds DA who has prosecuted a felony. https://alexander4da.com http://www.jfp.ms/politics/

Juan Cloy has been a cop, an assistant police chief, an FBI agent, a police union representative and a law-enforcement trainer--and he brings all of this experience to his run for the Hinds County Sheriff position. In this, podcast, he talked to Donna Ladd about his experience, his upbringing and his approach to leadership. https://cloyforsheriff.com/ http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/politics/

Victor Mason comes into the Hinds County Sheriff’s race with an advantage; he’s already the Sheriff. Some would argue he also comes in with a disadvantage—there have been some lawsuits, settlements, texts and health challenges—which Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd asked him all about in this episode of our limited series of podcasts about the 2019 political season. https://www.facebook.com/VictorPMasonSheriffofHindsCounty/ http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/politics/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Jackson, JFP Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd talks with New York Times bestselling author -- and Jacksonian -- Angie Thomas. Angie grew up in Georgetown, not far from the house where Medgar Evers was assassinated in 1963, and bases some of her fiction on the violence and changes she witnessed growing up. She earned a BFA from Belhaven University, where she began work on her debut novel, "The Hate U Give,” which is still on the bestseller list and is now a major motion picture. Her second novel, "On the Come Up," was released this spring and is also a bestseller. Angie Thomas: https://angiethomas.com/ This episode is brought to you by the Center for Art & Public Exchange at the Mississippi Museum of Art. More at http://museumcape.org/.

In this, the fourth episode in a limited series for for the 2019 political season, Donna Ladd speaks with Jody Owens, a candidate for district attorney in Hinds County; Owens originally from Terry, Mississippi, where he grew up in the country on a farm. He went to Terry High School, Jackson State University and on to law school. Recently he was head of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Mississippi office; in June, Owens, who is campaigning as a reformer, was endorsed by Jackson mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba as a replacement for outgoing district attorney Robert Shuler Smith. Links: jfp.ms/news/2019/jun/25/jody-owens-nets-endorsements-district-attorney-sys/ https://www.facebook.com/OwensforHindsDA https://www.owensforda.com/

On this Let's Talk Jackson Politics... Cassandra Welchin is a candidate for an open seat in House District 68 representing parts of West and South Jackson, Rankin County and Byram. Welchin describers herself as a policy advocate, organizer and coalition builder; she has an undergraduate degree from Jackson State and a graduate degree from Brandies University. She spoke with JFP State Reporter Ashton Pittman. https://www.cassandrawelchlin.com/ http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/politics/

JFP Reporter Ashton Pittman sits down with Marcus Williams, candidate for State Senate from District 26. Williams, who is in his early 30s, is running for the seat long held by State Senator John Horhn. The seat represents parts of North Jackson, southern Madison County and Hinds County to the West, reaching parts of Clinton and Edwards, Miss. Marcus Williams on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcusWilliamsforSenate/ JFP Political coverage: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/politics/

In episode 1 of this special "Let's Talk Jackson Politics" series of interviews, Donna Ladd speaks with former Jackson Police Department Chief Lee Vance, now running for Hinds County Sheriff. Vance is probably the best known challenger to Sheriff Victor Mason, the incumbent running to retain his seat. Vance spent 30 years with the Jackson Police Department after growing up on Wood Street in Jackson. "I started school when schools were still segregated, went to Mary C. Jones Elementary School." Although he retired just months into the Chokwe Antar Lumumba mayoral administration, he's been endorsed by the major in the sheriff's race.

In episode 7x09, Donna Ladd sits down with Maisie Brown, a 17-year-old Murrah High student who Donna met when she was 14 and an 8th grader at Bailey Middle School. Since that time, Maisie has become a leader in the Youth Media Project, hosting the first YMP Mayoral Forum. She was a TEDxJacksonWomen speaker in 2016 (at age 15) and is a strong proponent of public education, changing the Mississippi flag and women’s rights. LINKS: - http://www.youthmediaproject.com/ - http://www.tedxjackson.com/blog/talks/maisie-brown-embrace-the-social-media-generation/ - http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/apr/17/jps-teenagers-question-mayoral-candidates-ymp-pta-/ http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/aug/03/parkland-teens-jackson-we-cant-turn-away-these-sta/ - http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/mar/23/cloth-stick-represents-hatred-toward-me/ by Maisie Brown: - http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/apr/17/jps-teenagers-question-mayoral-candidates-ymp-pta-/

Jackson-native David Lewis (https://www.facebook.com/jdavidlewis) is the Interim Deputy Director of Cultural Services with the City of Jackson, where he oversees assets such as Thalia Mara Hall, the Mississippi Art Center and the Municipal Art Gallery. A graduate of Mississippi State University and Jackson State University, David is a huge booster for the City of Jackson and the ways in which public art can lead to quality of life and economic development. TeamJXN: www.teamjxn.com and www.facebook.com/TeamJxn/

In this episode of Let’s Talk Jackson, managing editor Amber Helsel sits down to talk with Emad Al-Turk, co-founder of the International Museum of Muslim Cultures based right here in Jackson. http://www.muslimmuseum.org/ The only museum of its kind in the United States, the museum was founded by Mr. Al-Turk and Okolo Rashid, opening in 2001 with an exhibit called “Moorish Spain: It’s Legacy to Europe” at the same time that the international exhibition The Majesty of Spain was on display in downtown Jackson. The now-permanent museum has a new traveling exhibition called “Muslims, Christians and Jews: An Exhibition of Covenants & Coexistence.” The exhibition will start in downtown Jackson, but will travel to cities around the country.

In this episode of Let's Talk Jackson, Donna Ladd sits down with Rukia Lumumba for a wide-ranging discussion on criminal justice and solutions to crime and violence. Perhaps best known locally for her work on her brother's successful mayoral campaign, Rukia Lumumba is a Howard-educated attorney and executive director of the People's Advocacy Institute, a non-profit dedicated to finding community-driven solutions to crime. http://www.peoplesadvocacyinstitute.com/ http://solutions.jacksonfreepress.com/

JFP Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd has a spirited conversation with Pam Confer, a local musician, songwriter, marketing expert and political organizer on the day the governor recognized as “Mississippi Beautiful Day.” They discuss the challenges that Mississippi faces in race relations and gender equality, how far the state has come, and how to keep up the energy of progress and community building in Jackson. Hear the entire "Mississippi Beautiful" recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgVfhnmMWtU This episode is brought to you by the members of the JFP VIP Club. Join at jfp.ms/VIP and help support JFP programming such as Let’s Talk Jackson.

FILE UPDATED - FULL EPISODE. In this episode of Let’s Talk Jackson, Donna Ladd sits down with Ronnie Crudup, Jr., the executive director of New Horizons Ministry Inc., and the recently elected Mississippi Representative from District 71. Donna and Ronnie talk about the effects of demographic shifts in South Jackson and how he’s trying to reverse the results. Also, find out why he thinks “God has a sense of humor.”

In this episode of Let's Talk Jackson we visit with Vince Jordan, co-founder of Lobaki, Inc, and the Lobaki Foundation, on the future of virtual reality, augmented reality and extended reality—and whether Jackson, Miss., could be at the epicenter of this exploding tech industry. JFP story on Lobaki: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/apr/05/living-virtual-reality-lobaki/ Innovation Report: https://issuu.com/innovatems/docs/innovation_report_magazine_2019/a/161705

In this second half of Donna Ladd's interview with Benny Ivey, the South Jackson native discusses time spent in prison and his rise in the gang the Simon City Royals. After getting out of prison and continuing to deal with addition, he finally got into rehab and started cleaning up his life. Today is a successful business owner and a "credible messenger" working to help at-risk youth take a different path than the one he went down as an adolescent and young man. Donna's JFP story about Benny Ivey: www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/ju…d-journey-h/ Donna's Guardian story about Benny Ivey and white gangs: www.theguardian.com/society/2018/ap…issippi-chicago Donna's JFP story about "Undivided" in South Jackson and efforts at violence interruption around the country: www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/ap…le-violence/ Join the JFP VIP Club to support our journalism and this podcast: www.jfp.ms/vip/

In the first episode of season 7, Jackson Free Press Editor-in-Chief Donna Ladd interview Benny Ivey, a success businessman who was once a criminal, drug addict and gang leader. Benny tells the first part of his amazing story of growing up in South Jackson into a life of crime and violence, and then eventually out of it again. (Photo by Imani Khayyam for Jackson Free Press.) Donna's JFP story about Benny Ivey: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/jun/27/brotherhood-destruction-addiction-fueled-journey-h/ Donna's Guardian story about Benny Ivey and white gangs: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/apr/05/white-gangs-rise-simon-city-royals-mississippi-chicago Donna's JFP story about "Undivided" in South Jackson and efforts at violence interruption around the country: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/apr/20/hunger-live-struggle-interrupt-cycle-violence/ Join the JFP VIP Club to support our journalism and this podcast: http://www.jfp.ms/vip/

Today marks a monumental moment in the life of the Let’s Talk Jackson podcast. For those of you who have been with me since episode one, you know my goal has been to find local people with stories to tell and give them a platform to do so. Since 2013, we’ve been doing just that and it’s been amazing to hear from many of you who have discovered the show as means of connecting with your hometown heroes, discovering talent-and-energy within the city, or most humbling to me, those of you who have come to this podcast as your first entry point as you consider a move to Jackson. It’s been an amazing journey and today, I’m excited to announce that Let’s Talk Jackson is growing up. Starting with Season 7 and if fact this episode right here, Let’s Talk Jackson will henceforth be powered by the Jackson Free Press! As the new ownership team comes in, it’s my honor to pass the torch… or in this case, the microphone to a voice you will be hearing a lot more from in the future. Ladies and gentleman, the new producer and host of Let’s Talk Jackson, Todd Stauffer!

Mississippi is the last state to actively fly the confederate battle flag within the canton of it’s own state flag. For many years, state-funded universities and some cities around the state have refused to put up the flag. In 2001 a motion was put to popular vote, but in the end nothing was changed. The issue is now becoming more urgent, as white supremacists are flying not only the Confederate and the Nazi flags, but also the Mississippi state flag. With that in mind, a group of Mississippians began creating a podcast to tell the story of how Mississippi is changing itself from within. We have the opportunity to showcase the future of our state, not the past. We want our listeners to shape the outcome of that story.

Macy B. Hart, a longtime director of the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Mississippi, established the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience (MSJE) in the 1980s, in an effort to preserve the artifacts and history of small Jewish communities across the South in risk of extinction. In 2000, Hart expanded the MSJE into the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). The ISJL serves a thirteen state Southern region. As a "virtual synagogue," the organization has six departments: education, rabbinic, history, museum, programming, and community engagement. Hart's passion for his heritage, his home, and the broader community fuel his work at the ISJL. He has also worked and continues to work with a variety of other nonprofits, including Parents for Public Schools (PPS), the Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM), Camp Dream Street, and more. Learn more: https://www.isjl.org/

This episode of Let’s Talk Jackson was hosted and produced by Kourtney Moncure Guest: Malcolm White Executive Producer: Beau York Special Thanks to our Season 6 sponsor, Primos Cafe! Learn how you can have a little taste of Mississippi ready to sweeten up your next celebration at primosbakeshop.com & use the code “LetsTalkCakes” for a special discount now through October 2018.

On today’s episode, I talked to new business owner Cree Singleton from Vintage Rec. Vintage Rec is a fun boutique that caters to different memorable fashion eras. Newly opened in Dogwood, today I learned about her start in owning her own business, what inspired her to open this type boutique & some learning curves that she experienced. This episode of Let’s Talk Jackson was hosted and produced by Kourtney Moncure Guest: Cre Singleton Executive Producer: Beau York Special Thanks to our Season 6 sponsor, Primos Cafe! Learn how you can have a little taste of Mississippi ready to sweeten up your next celebration at primosbakeshop.com & use the code “LetsTalkCakes” for a special discount now through October 2018.

Have you ever wondered who was the force behind bringing some of your favorite acts to Jackson? Well wonder no longer because on this episode, I will be talking to Arden from ArdenLand. ArdenLand is an entertainment company that specializes in everything from concerts to fundraising. With over 25 years in the business, today I learn what separates them from other entertainment companies , the most memorable event & the love for a Fondren location. This episode of Let’s Talk Jackson was hosted and produced by Kourtney Moncure Guest: Arden Barnett Executive Producer: Beau York Special Thanks to our Season 6 sponsor, Primos Cafe! Learn how you can have a little taste of Mississippi ready to sweeten up your next celebration at primosbakeshop.com & use the code “LetsTalkCakes” for a special discount now through October 2018.