BY JON MARK WALLS

Featured in Vol 8, Issue 1: Jackson Grown

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

Sir Isaac Newton

It was partly selfish. Admittedly, I wanted to feel closer to home. Reflecting back, I wanted to reconnect with a meaningful period of life in a place I loved. Like many folks sprouting a few gray hairs, I felt like I could offer a bit of advice to the generation just behind me.

The blank spaces in our daily schedules during the 2020-2021 COVID year(s) provided a moment to brainstorm about how we could build on the Jackson Grown series started in 2017 and published in Our Jackson Home magazine.

Together with Courtney Searcy, Justin Searcy and a team of volunteers, we had the “brain space” to think about how alumni from the Jackson Madison County School System (JMCSS) and members of the Jackson community could offer something to some of the best hidden gems in Jackson’s public schools.

In August 2021, we kicked off the Jackson Grown Leader Fellowship centered on mentor investment, skills development, network building and knowledge growth during the critical final year of high school.

From the outset of Jackson Grown, we received wonderful input and strong coordination from the community. The Kickoff event was held at Baker Bros BBQ and sponsored by the Jackson Old Hickory Rotary Club. Speakers included Superintendent Dr. Marlon King and New York Times Best Selling author Brad Montague. Renow]ned artist LOLO offered a guest performance of her song Shine. She also took the time to speak deeply about why it was important to Love Yourself.

Relying heavily on the incredible, consistent commitment of school counselors and principals, the Fellows arrived for the first meeting at the end of September. Admittedly, there was a bit of nervousness and uncertainty on everyone’s side. Would the students connect with one another? Would they care? Were we being overly idealistic?

The Fall semester centered on introducing students to a few of the JMCSS’s most inspiring alumni. Having spent a career walking hundreds of feet above the ground in some of the world’s most inspiring settings, professional slackliner Heather Larsen (Northside ‘04) spoke to the Fellows about what it was like to Take Risks. At that first September meeting Carita Cole (JCM ‘03) joined as well and spoke about the risks she took and fears she felt as she continues to grow her rap career and serve Jackson with West Tennessee Legal Services.

In October, multi-platinum award winning songwriter Josh Miller (Liberty ‘05) reflected on the importance of allowing yourself the freedom to Be Creative. The November/December meeting welcomed world-renowned actress and fashion model Wakeema Hollis (JCM ‘01) who talked with each of the students about what it meant to Stand Bold.

As we turned the corner into the Spring semester, the program turned its focus on encouraging the Fellows to reflect on challenges they see or experience in the Jackson community. They worked hard to think about and frame the issues by identifying

An issue they care about and why they care about it
An example they have seen in the community of this challenge
An idea or two of why that challenge might exist
A proposal for how the issue could be addressed

In January, with LOLO (Lauren Pritchard) came back as the group moderator at Hub City Brewery, the Fellows sat together in a round table and presented their issues to one another. She helped guide them through their initial ideas and presentations in an environment that was both safe, encouraging and creative.

Building on the conversation with LOLO, the Fellows continued to structure their ideas. In February, they had the opportunity to sit with a select group of mentors from the community. Each mentor was chosen based on their expertise and experience which connected with the Fellows’ individual interests and the City Challenges they selected. March was “practice month” and each Fellow came prepared to present five minute speeches in front of the other Fellows as a trial run for the final Challenge to the City at the end of April.

Observing the Fellows over the course of the year has been as inspiring as it has been encouraging. They have had the courage to dive into issues ranging from gang violence, littering, teacher pay, intercultural understanding, nutrition, guns, abuse and the availability of extracurricular opportunities for youth. These are, of course, difficult and highly complex.

Too often as adults we become numb to the reality of these and similar issues. We overlook them because, perhaps, our day to day lives don’t intersect with them directly. Or maybe, we are reluctant to dive too deeply into them because we are afraid our assumptions might be challenged or we will be called to take action that shakes our personal status quo.

The 2021-2022 Jackson Grown Leadership Fellows challenge the Jackson community to look at them, listen to their stories and answer their calls to action.•

Learn more at ourjacksonhome.com/jacksongrown.

JON MARK WALLS is a social entrepreneur, strategist, lecturer and speechwriter focused on simplifying the complexity around some of the world's biggest challenges. He has worked for a range of United Nations agencies as well as various governments and NGOs on innovative ways to approach some of the world’s most difficult challenges ranging from global health, human rights and sustainable development to climate change, child labor, and economic development. In 2012 he co-founded GovFaces which aimed to improve interactive communication between citizens and elected representatives in Europe. He has served as a panelist and speaker including TEDx events in India and Greece as well as a keynote speaker at the French Military Academy. He serves on multiple boards and has been cited in media in over 20 countries including Forbes, BBC and Figaro.

Recently on the Blog