Vol. 10, Issue 2 | Fall 2024

made in jackson

Sponsored by

Jackson State Community College

Pick up a copy here:

theCO (541 Wiley Parker)
Turntable Coffee Counter (300 E Main St.)
JMC Library (433 E Lafayette St.)
Havner’s Frame Shop (105 N Church St.)
Catbird Studio (2100 Pleasant Plains Extension)
Lane College (545 Lane Ave.)
The Ned (314 E. Main St.)
Garner Blue (7 Jackson Walk Plaza)
theLOCAL (202 W Lafayette St.)
The Nine Oh Six (212 E Main St)
Franklin’s Little Bar (205 S. Shannon St.)
the Carnegie (305 E. College St.)
ComeUnity Cafe (218 E. Main St.)
Jackson Clinic (145 Innovation Drive)
Green Frog (1410 Union University Dr.)
Polished (1319 Union University Dr. Suite C)
Solace Skin & Laser (1363 Union University Dr. Suite F)
Premier Dental (80 Exeter Rd.)
Rejuvenate Wellness & Medspa (1348 Union University Dr. Suite C)
Flight Nutrition (1348 Union University Dr Suite H)


editor's note

As I was looking at the basic definition of what it means to make something, it read “essential qualities or ingredients.” Essential. That word kept repeating in my mind. Essential describes aspects of each person and organization featured in this journal. The stories featured in this Made in Jackson edition represent aspects of our community that are essential when we think about what continually makes Jackson a home for us all. 

"Ingredients" is also an interesting concept. I love cooking and baking, and as I think about creating a recipe or making something in my mind into reality, I must have certain ingredients to make the final product taste delicious and enjoyable. This also reflects “makers” in Jackson. They are the ingredients needed to enjoy our city. 

But are the makers in this journal, or even the ones nominated, the only people and organizations who are the essential ingredients making up Jackson? I would most certainly say there are more than one could count or acknowledge.

The whole concept of “Made in Jackson” was created to open up the journal for community participation and to hear who you think are essential parts of our city, making up the ingredients that keep our city running together. For this second year, I wanted to change how we phrased each category, adapting each one to say “making Jackson.” The act of being a maker is continual, it is ongoing, it never stops. While these features are the ones we chose for this specific journal, there are many other makers in Jackson who are essential for a thriving environment. 

While we must call a physical print journal “finished,” the work being done by community makers is ongoing; it will forever be changing, adapting, and readjusting to the needs at hand. As you read this journal, my encouragement is to look and see how you are actively making the spaces and communities you find yourself in. How are you an essential part of your sphere of influence? Would people look at you and say that you are investing in your community in ways that are essential ingredients in creating a home for your people? And then think: who are the “makers” I should be thanking for making my school, church, organization, friend group, social circles, businesses, or local government? 

Let’s continue to do the work of making Jackson the home we all know, love, and strive to see.

Maddie McMurry, Editor-in-Chief


details

64 pages | perfect bound | full color
Printed in Jackson, Tennessee, at
Tennessee Industrial Printing, Inc.

featured writers

Eric Archer
Lizzie Emmons
Anna Esquivel
Gabe Hart
Trista Havner
Maddie McMurry
Austin Thompson
Bethany Welborn

featured photographers

Mirza Babic
Dan Battle 
Carrie Cantrell
Hannah Gore
Cari Griffith
Maddie McMurry


Innovative: Katie Garcia

turning ‘no’ into ‘yes’

Story by Lizzie Emmons | Photos by Kristi Woody

Innovative: Malesus STEM Innovation Center

Committing to the future of Jackson’s students

Story by austin thompson | Photos by Maddie mcmurry

entertaining: Jackson Rockabillys

the ministry of baseball

Story by anna esquivel | Photos by dan battle

Entertaining: Jeremy Tubbs

building a future in music

By eric archer | Illustration by hannah gore

caring: stacy preston

changing the narrative script for immigrants in our city

Story and Photos by Maddie mcmurry

caring: hollie stockdale

showing up as a witness and servant to women in motherhood

story by bethany welborn | Photos by carrie cantrell

enduring: west tn farmers’ market

Rhythms & seasons

Story by gabe hart | Photos by mirza babic

enduring: Lendon Noe

the process of becoming

Story by trista havner | Photos by cari griffith


 

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Jackson State COmmunity College

“We don’t just see ourselves as a degree-granting institution, we see ourselves as a community agent for economic development,” Dr. Carol Rothstein, president of Jackson State, said.

In the heart of West Tennessee, Jackson State Community College has been a cornerstone of education and economic development since its founding in 1967. As one of the original three community colleges in Tennessee and the first in the western part of the state, Jackson State serves over 3,500 students across 10 counties, connecting individuals to transformative opportunities and improving the overall health of the region.

Jackson State sees themselves as a key player in economic development as they partner with organizations throughout West Tennessee and commit to training a local workforce that strengthens the economy and improves quality of life. They want to instill a love for Jackson as a home for their students. The community college model is unique because of the partnerships they have with other four year institutions like University of Memphis, UT Martin, and Lane College, which allow students to receive all the training and degrees they need for their career while remaining at home. This not only retains local talent, but also attracts businesses, combats economic decline, and reduces poverty, especially in our rural surrounding communities. 

For Dr. Rothstein, the mission of Jackson State is personal. As a mother of three who needed the flexibility of a community college, she experienced firsthand the life-changing impact it can have. "They helped me figure out my goals and what I wanted," she recalled, making her deeply invested in the success of students who find themselves in similar situations. Whether they are recent high school graduates, working parents, or individuals from underprepared academic backgrounds, Jackson State meets students where they are.

The impact and reach of Jackson State is vast and wide across West Tennessee. 

“You can go into any room and ask ‘who here graduated from Jackson State?’ or who is connected or knows someone – it is overwhelming how many people in a room are connected to Jackson State. It’s wild. It is a big sign that we have that community support,” Henry Kilpatrick, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, said. “I want people to be proud of the institution they came from and proud to give back to it, we really want to establish pride in West Tennessee.”

Jackson State is making Jackson’s students better prepared for their futures and encouraging community engagement at whatever age they enter the college scene. Many times, students come out of their programs and are making the highest salary of their entire household. This changes the trajectory of their entire families and the impact they can add to our local economy here in West Tennessee. 

Graduates move on from Jackson State to do incredible things, and most of them are staying local. Jackson State has a huge impact on keeping people in the home we all know and love here. They make Jackson better by training more “Jackson makers” and by improving the livability of each family the students are connected to. 

Kilpatrick and Dr. Rothstein both hope to see Jackson State continue to grow with their student population, whether that be by renovating buildings, establishing more community partners, or expanding programs of study. They want to grow and expand their relationships, resources, and reputation. Jackson State is shaping students into community members who have a deep love and appreciation for making their home right here in Jackson, Tennessee. 

“We always look at how we can be a better neighbor, a better steward to our community, not just through education, but also showcasing the partnerships and programs we have available to them to potentially give them what they are looking for,” Kilpatrick said.