People of Downtown: Katie Howerton
We have loved following along with Jackson Downtown Development Corporation's "People of Downtown" series on Facebook and Instagram, and this week, we were lucky enough to have our own Editor-in-Chief Katie Howerton featured. Read a little more of her story below and find out why downtown Jackson is such an important part of Our Jackson Home's mission.
“It's a pretty special thing that my job can be not only my career but also my creative outlet and community connection all in one.” Katie Howerton, Communications Manager for theCO & Editor-in-Chief of Our Jackson Home, reflects on how her job overflows into her love of Jackson. “Whether my days are filled with the everyday stuff of running a business, or the more fun activities of screen printing, laying out the journal, or operating a special event, I feel a sense of vocation and purpose in my place in Jackson.”
Katie Howerton moved to Jackson seven years ago in order to study graphic design at Union University. After graduating, she decided to stay here and use her talents to showcase the people, places, and happenings in Jackson.
In 2014, Our Jackson Home was originally launched as a blog and podcast side hustle. Katie fell in love with the concept and proposed using the brand as the blueprint for a print publication as her senior thesis project. She says, “Little did I know that it would lead me to my post-grad career. I'm so grateful that theCO provided a way to sustain Our Jackson Home and take it far beyond a hobby for local creatives.”
“I love that Our Jackson Home allows me to be such a part of downtown. . . . It is the heart of our city”
Katie says, “I love that Our Jackson Home allows me to be such a part of downtown. While my office is not there, most of my days are spent eating in, highlighting, and meeting folks in downtown, primarily because it is the heart of our city—perhaps not geographically, but definitely historically. It's home to my favorite restaurants, church body, and overall community.”
As she reflects on Our Jackson Home and their team, Katie says, “I'm hopeful that the creativity and authenticity of our team translates to our audience so that they can feel connected to their city and encouraged to know their neighbors.”
Learn more about the Jackson Downtown Development Corporation on their website.
After graduating from Union University, Renae Adelsberger and her husband Kevin decided to make Jackson their home due to their love for their church, nonprofits, local businesses, and abundance of Sonic drive-ins. Read more of her work on her personal blog.
Photographer Kevin Adelsberger and his wife Renae moved to Jackson for college (proud Union alumni) and have stayed every since. Jackson has since taken hold of Kevin’s heart, and he looks forward to continuing to grow with the city. Kevin opened Adelsberger Marketing in 2014 and saw working with Our Jackson Home as a way that he could serve the city he loves. Kevin and Renae are members of First Baptist Church and volunteer with the youth group there and with Madison County CASA.
