Long before there was a gallery to curate, babies to raise, classrooms full of students to inspire, courses to pass, miles on the pavement to log, or basketballs to bounce, for little Trista, there were books to read.
Before the interview even began, only minutes after meeting Freeman McKindra, I knew he was an incredibly kind and well-respected man on Lane College’s campus.
It’s 3:00 on a cold and rainy February afternoon — two days before Valentine’s Day, to be exact. The rain is incessant, and parking is sparse on North Liberty Street in Downtown Jackson.
Thank you to JEA for sponsoring the Spring 2024 Issue of Our Jackson Home’s journal.
My mom would always call her friends a colorful thread in the tapestry of her life, and she would always tell us the same is true for our friendships.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Obviously it’s a question you get asked less and less the older you get — “What is your dream?”
Maybe you’ve walked by and spotted us rehearsing through the wide-open windows at Turntable Coffee Counter, seen the light spilling onto the shadowed sidewalks outside, or heard the occasional shout of laughter drifting down the mostly deserted downtown streets.
The American Dream is a national narrative that has been retold and repurposed for more than 100 years, often as a way of keeping hope in a difficult world.
As you enter the city limits of Jackson, Tennessee, on either direction of Highway 45 there is a sign that gives passersby a brief insight into a school, a team, and a tradition that has its home just two miles from the South Fork of the Forked Deer River. If you continue driving south from that river, you will cross the bridge just past the fairgrounds, and enter the territory known as Hawk Nation–the domain of South Side High School and the Hawks.
Michael Smith has always been a singer. When we met up to share some Shawarma House and talk about his music, Smith—also known by his stage name, Almost Isaac—told me that when he was a kid, it was a near-impossible task to get him to stop singing. “People couldn't shut me up. We had a rule at my kitchen table that if you start singing, you get three warnings. On the third warning, you had to go back into the back hallway of our house and scream at the top of your lungs for 45 seconds. And I was the only person that ever had to do it.”
El Ganadero, tucked into the long plaza near Tractor Supply on Carriage House, is in many ways
like most Mexican restaurants in Jackson–familiar decor, familiar menu items–but in the ways
that matter, it felt much more like my favorite Summer Ave. dives in Memphis, where you can
almost bet that the lower quality the dining room furniture the better the pastor is going to be.
The City of Jackson saw the arrival of its first film festival this August, thanks to the leadership of one local filmmaker who decided to bring her idea into reality. The Hub City Film Festival was hosted at the Ned R. McWherter Center in August and featured an opportunity for locals to view movies made by filmmakers from the West Tennessee region. In addition to the film viewing, attendees were able to hear from these local filmmakers in panel discussions and Q&A sessions that occurred periodically throughout the festival.
I knew who Ontoni Reedy was long before I ever spoke to him. He is one of those people whose reputation precedes them, the kind of man who everyone can attribute something positive to even if they do not know him personally. It came as no shock to me that, when polled, our community chose to recognize him as someone who is contributing to building culture. He is always building something and the list of his contributions spans theater and education and cuisine.
In the vibrant tapestry of the Jackson community, few threads shine as brightly as the one woven by Wendy Trice Martin. As a stalwart advocate for equal justice and cultural awareness, Wendy has dedicated her life to fostering unity and empowerment in the Jackson community. She has been a master storyteller, a devoted educator, a community convenor, and a mother to so many. And through her tireless work, she has helped our community witness significant changes, while inspiring countless others.
Paul Taylor is someone who truly cares about this place we call our Jackson home. From his history in Jackson as well as time spent living in other parts of the country, Paul brings a unique perspective and understanding for where we have been as a community and has the vision and skills to help us accomplish better for our community. Paul Taylor is making change in Jackson.
Professional photographer Darren Lykes is driving change in Jackson through a surprising but powerful avenue — connection.
Darren’s involvement in the community is far-reaching. As both an event producer and leader, he was one of the founders of The STAR Center’s “Dancing with the Stars,” producer of Lane College Founder’s Day scholarship luncheon each spring, and chairperson of Jackson TN Pride – Pride in the Park and Pride After Dark. He serves on the board of the Ned, the Miss Tennessee Volunteer and Miss Volunteer America programs, as well as the Community Foundation of West Tennessee.
Iron City, Tennessee sits just north of the Alabama border, tucked right at the bottom of the state line. As its name suggests, the town is tough; its history marked with rebellion and anarchy in a setting that brings to mind Jason Isbell’s “Decoration Day” — a song rife with generational violence, a southern-fried version of the Hatfields and McCoys.
Cody Stooksberry was born and raised in Iron City and describes his hometown as “a town that’s known for being a little outlaw.”
Many of my strongest memories revolve around food. The pancakes at the breakfast table in conversation with my grandfather, the glass of cider at a café while in Paris with a few of my friends, the dinner co-op with meals shared through my first years after college while my friends' children ran around the house. These moments built around food and drink shape our routines and sense and belonging. We build our families and our communities — chosen or given to us — around these rituals.
Bethany Lutz, owner of The Mother Thifter, spent most of her life feeling trapped by the same clothing and the feeling of being un-human, undeserving of beauty. Getting dressed each day was not a joyful ordeal filled with excitement; it was simply a routine, a mandatory part of her day. The pandemic of 2020 was transformational for most people, whether for good or for bad. Thankfully for Bethany, her life was flipped upside down and the heart of her business was born.
David McCall found his home in local theater, and now he is opening that door to the whole community. The Director of The Ned Ray McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center described his return as a full circle moment.
“I have skin in that game, and I know what it can do, and it changed the trajectory of my life,” David said.
"Film is an art I think we take for granted, but it’s more than just entertaining. It can be healing and joyful for both the filmmaker and the viewer. For me, there is just something about when the lights go down in the theater, no one else but you and the screen. Who you are is acceptable here no matter what.”
“When I got crowned, I stood there for the longest,” Mindy Pettigrew said, “I didn't believe it, to be honest. I thought I was still dreaming. The whole night was a dream. It was amazing.”
Mindy Pettigrew is Miss Juneteenth Jackson 2023. She wears her crown proudly. Her smile shines brightly. And her words are well beyond her 16 years.
The Greater Jackson Chamber has a long history of promoting economic growth and stability in the Jackson-Madison County area. With a diverse and talented staff, a board of directors, dedicated volunteers, and over 1,000 business members, the chamber is committed to developing and maintaining an economic climate that creates and retains jobs and enhances the quality of life for all citizens of Jackson-Madison County and West Tennessee.
Through cultural arts, music history, city celebrations, the farmers market, and local shops, a common thread of community weaves through these spaces. These spaces create a sense of belonging because of the relationships built in and around them. These relationships look like business owners collaborating and creating together, not to compete but cheer each other on. It looks like organizations and leaders working together for new ideas and solutions. It looks like residents, employees, and customers walking to work or having lunch with their neighbor.
Ismael and Angelica want the Jackson community to know that they are here to serve and build community. Their bakery is not just about selling bread; it's about breaking bread and building friendships, creating a sense of home for everyone who walks through their doors. They believe it's important to pass down their traditions to their children so that their culture continues to thrive.
