2022 - 2023 Jackson grown leader fellows

The 2022 - 2023 class of Jackson Grown Leader Fellows served as the second class for the program. Building on the first year in 2021 - 2022, the Fellows served as incredible examples of leaders unafraid to understand and explore complex ideas and challenges. Over the course of the year they met monthly with talented, committed mentors from across the community. They built skills in public speaking and critical thinking. Together with highly qualified local experts, the Fellows dug into important issues which they slected based on their experiences.

Representing each high school in the Jackson Madison County School System, the Fellows had a range of professional interests including nursing, the military, engineering, music and computer science. Moving forward, Senior Fellows are attending colleges and universities including East Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis at Lambuth and Jackson State Community College.

The Challenge to the City is the final event for the Jackson Grown Leader Fellowship each year. It offers a chance for the Fellows a chance to meet with and discuss what is possible for the Jackson Madison County community and ways for the community to grow. City and county leaders from across business, government, education and non-government organizations come together and listen to the Fellows deliver 5 minute speeches. the leaders follow up with questions and Fellows provide new insight.

On May 12th, 2023 at the 2nd Annual Challenge to the City, the Fellows delivered speeches in front of 75 commmunity leaders. The speeches framed their experiences, analyzed the challenges and offered new ways of looking at solutions which could be considered for improving the community.