BY DARIN HOLLINGSWORTH
PHOTOS BY COURTNEY SEARCY

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.

Darren was born in McLemoresville, grew up in Atwood, and moved to Jackson in 2005. His parents met in college, and they have been married for 43 years. He is the middle child of three with an older brother and younger sister. With three nephews and one niece, Darren’s face lights up any time he speaks of them.

Darren’s creativity and commitment to learning have helped him to be a successful, much sought-after photographer. Those two characteristics and core values are among the reasons that he stands out as a change maker. Additionally, he makes meaningful connections with people in his photography and in his volunteer work in the community. He was among the first Black photographers in Jackson, and he is pleased to have seen more diversity come to his community of photographers.

When asked how Darren considers himself to be a change maker, his authentic humble response was, “I don't. That's the thing. It's just who I am. And luckily, I've been able to make some changes but I really don't look at myself as a change maker. I look at myself as a person who's just being me and happened to be able to make some change along the way.”

From raising $22,000 in the first year of Dancing with the Stars to now raising over $300,000 each year, Darren has provided creative leadership that helps The STAR Center make a transformational impact in the lives of those they serve. He is very quick to lift others up as he describes his role in community work and events.

Before Dancing with the Stars, Darren was asked to help transform an event at Lane College from a traditional Founder’s Day to a signature event for the college. When you walk into the event that he has produced for the past ten years you can see transformational creativity in the way a gymnasium is changed to a space that rivals some of the most elegant hotel ballrooms and event venues around the country.

Though he is not an alumnus of Lane College, he is very proud of Lane’s role in the community as a Historically Black College. He feels a great sense of accomplishment in helping the college build affinity in the community and among alumni with the event.

More recently, Darren and a dedicated Jackson Pride committee have continued to deliver a loving, inclusive, entertaining community-building event, now in its fourth year. Darren emphasizes the team effort and collaboration that comes from one of his co-leaders of Pride, Heath Williams.

Surrounded by good people, Darren has been the glue that has led to success for Pride. His love of community has made him beloved in the community. He has an ability to diplomatically navigate change and opposition while at the same time creating change. He is resilient and inspires others to be the same.

“Change is not always easy, and we understand that and we've understood that and we keep pushing forward,” Lykes said. For him, the priority is more than just a tagline — celebrating diversity and fostering unity.

“I feel like we're creating this culture of visibility, and that is creating some change — and hopefully young people that are moving to Jackson and not-so-young people moving to Jackson will feel a little bit more accepted and a little bit more visible because of the work that we're doing,” Lykes said.

When asked what he believes his superpower is, Darren said “I love to connect people to other people. That's one of my superpowers.” This can be seen clearly through all of Lykes work in the community — a change maker moving our community forward by connecting people through events, organizations, and more.

DARIN HOLLINGSWORTH has had a thriving career as a financial advisor, a sales professional, a senior fundraising professional and a non-profit executive.Now via executive and philanthropy coaching, Darin is passionate about helping successful professionals realize and exceed their personal and professional potential.

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