Historic East Jackson Community Development Corporation

07/21/2016

FOLLOW ME INTO BUSINESS® SUMMER PROGRAM
WRAPS UP THIS WEEK WITH CLOSING BANQUET AND CITY TOUR

This week, the African American Chamber’s Follow Me Into Business® job readiness program will close with an Awards Banquet and a City Tour. The closing Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, July 21st, at 6:00 p.m. at T.R. White Sportsplex, 304 N. Hays. All participants, their parents and chamber members are invited to attend.

The four-hour City Tour on this Friday, July 22nd will include tours of the Madison County Court House, The Ned, Armstrong Flooring and Lane College, which will also serve as the pickup and drop-off point.

Founded in 2002 by the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce, the youth development program has provided nearly 600 young people, 12-18, with job training skills and business basics training as well as mentoring, employment and community involvement opportunities. This month, 13 teenagers, ages 16-18, have been employed in summer jobs paid for through a grant from the City of Jackson. Serving as workplaces for the teens are D & L Grocery, Family Healthcare of Jackson, Food Rite, It's Printed, Lane College, Mission Convalescent Home, Missy's Campus Corner, Nell Huntspon Flower Box, RIFA, Walgreens, and The Harris Agency.

The youth workforce development program for ages 12-15 kicked June 2nd at the Huntspon Business Complex, 351 North Royal. Orientation for all participants was held May 7th. And, job readiness training for the 16-18 year-olds took place on June 15th and 22nd.

Participants, ages 12-15, received four weeks of business basics training including workshops, guest speakers and role play in June followed by job shadowing, mentoring and site visits to member businesses during the second four weeks in July. A computer class hosted by Lane College was also included in the training. On Thursday at the Awards Banquet, younger students who complete all 8 weeks will receive a certificate of achievement, a youth chamber membership and a $35 stipend. Special thanks to workshop speakers Sharvis Cooper of Goodwill Industries, Camilla Curry of Mission Convalescent Home, Patrick Talley of the 100 Black Men of West Tennessee, career coach Rocky Miller of Say The Word, Inc., and Chester Sharp (formerly of BancorpSouth now with First Tennessee). Program advisors are Mary Weddle and Margaret Kimmins.

Guest speakers for the teen worker trainings facilitated by Executive Director Florence Howard were Commissioner Katie Brantley, Armstrong Flooring plant manager Swee Har Wilcox, Walgreens South store manager Charles Adams and immediate past president Clarence D. Boone. JMCAACC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the Follow Me Into Business® program is free to participants. For more information, call the JMCAACC office at 731-424-2030 or send an email to [email protected].
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Florence Howard, Executive Director
Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce
351-C North Royal Jackson, TN 38301
731-424-2030 office
901-827-0836 mobile
www.jmcaacc.org

Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce serves small businesses in West Tennessee, assists in growth and development of member businesses, trains youth in job readiness and works in economic and community development.

03/23/2016

The Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce will open registration for its 8 week youth workforce development summer program.

Completed Forms must be returned by 5pm Friday, April 1 to be eligible for consideration

The packets can be picked up at Nell Huntspon Flower Box, 351 North Royal Street.

For More Information contact [email protected] or
call 731-424-2030

02/14/2016

Happy Valentines.

Nell Huntspon Flower Box is a full-service florist located on North Royal Street and has been serving the Jackson area for over forty-six years. When I walked in to meet and interview Nell, she was talking with a customer on the phone, so I browsed the array of house plants and gifts on display in t…

08/04/2015

Salem C.M.E. Church honored Huntspon for her service to the church and the community

05/22/2015

Great seeing the chairs and honorary chairs for this year's Freedom Fund Banquet.

Thank you to Monte Jones, Honorary Co-Chair for supporting the 52nd Freedom Fund Banquet scheduled for May 24. The banquet is one of the branch's primary fundraisers.

05/06/2015

JMCSS Hosts Vision 2020 Public Forums May 9th for Community Feedback. Be a part of the conversation!!

May 9 at 1 p.m. - Lincoln Courts Community Center| 217A Lincoln Circle
May 9 at 3:30 p.m. - Salvation Army of Jackson | 125 Allen Avenue

Don't miss the last two forums THIS SATURDAY for developing a plan that will best support our students and teachers. Come, learn how the plan will be developed and share your insights.

May 9 at 1 p.m. - Lincoln Courts Comm. Center| 217A Lincoln Cir

May 9 at 3:30 p.m. - Salvation Army of Jackson | 125 Allen Ave

04/17/2015

http://www.jacksonsun.com/story/money/business/2015/04/16/bennigans-heads-east-jackson-retail-center/25905471/

Bennigan's Restaurant headed for East Jackson retail center

03/10/2015

SUPERINTENDENT VERNA RUFFIN TO SPEAK AT JMCAACC
POWER BREAKFAST ON MARCH 16TH

JACKSON, Tenn. (March 10, 2015) – Dr. Verna D. Ruffin, superintendent of the Jackson-Madison County School System, will be the featured speaker at the Power Breakfast on next Monday hosted by the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce (JMCAACC). The Power Breakfast on Educating Our Children will take place at 7:45 a.m. on Monday, March 16 at Royal Reed's, 507 North Royal St.

With an overriding goal of “doing what is best for children,” Dr. Ruffin became superintendent on July 1, 2013 and is now approaching her second anniversary. At this time, she and the JMCSS School Board are spearheading a strategic planning initiative known as Vision 2020. The Vision 2020 process involves parents and community leaders as well as principals and teachers in structuring a clear vision for the realigning, repurposing and/or consolidating school facilities. As part of this process, Community Input Forums will be held in April and May. The final decisions for the plan will be made by December 2015 for implementation during the 2016-17 school year.

At the March 16th meeting, community residents will have an opportunity to hear more about the strategic planning process, learn how they can get involved and ask questions. Dr. Ruffin, a former school principal, spent her first year and a half focusing on capacity-building, student achievement (particularly in middle school), literacy, and professional development. Before coming to Jackson, she served as Assistant Superintendent for the Academic Achievement Zone, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education, Area Superintendent, principal, assistant principal and band director in school districts in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. She received her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma.

The Power Breakfast hosted by the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce (www.jmcaacc.org) is a learning and networking opportunity that is open to the public. The sessions are generally held on the third Monday of the month. There is no charge for the meeting. Coffee and muffins will be provided.

02/24/2015

     This year's Black History Month offering, formally called the Historical Pioneers presentation, looks at those who were born or lived in Jackson, Tenn. and went on to national and global recognition in the music industry, such as, blues singer Mabel Smith aka Big Maybelle, pianist and accordion…

02/06/2015

TICKETS FOR 14TH ANNUAL JEWEL AWARDS
HOSTED BY JACKSON MADISON COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER
NOW ON SALE IN BOLIVAR, BROWNSVILLE, HUMBOLDT, JACKSON AND MILAN

Local Music Greats of the 1930s unto the Present Day to be Honored

JACKSON, Tenn. – February 6, 2015 -- Rev. Cleavant Derricks, Sonny Boy Williamson, Gil Scott-Heron, Farris Lanier, and Denise LaSalle are among 15 Historical Pioneers in Music that the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce (JMCAACC) will honor at its 14th Annual JEWEL Awards Banquet on Friday, February 27, 2015, 6:30 p.m. at Oman Arena, 179 Lane Avenue in Jackson. Tickets can be purchased at selected member business locations, including Nell Huntspon Flower Box, 351 N. Royal in Jackson; WOJG-FM 94.7, 123 W. Market in Bolivar; Golden Circle Insurance, 39 S. Jackson in Brownsville; Baskerville Funeral Home, 802 N. Ninth in Humboldt; and Sears, 6034 S. First in Milan, as well as online at www.jmcaacc.org. Banquet tickets are $75 each and a table of 8 is $600. Concert balcony loge seats are also available for $25 for adults and $10 for youth and college students.

Sponsored by City of Jackson and West Tennessee Healthcare along with Lane College, The Jackson Sun, , West Tennessee Examiner, 96KIX, WOJG-FM and WBBJ-TV, the annual JEWEL Awards Banquet honors outstanding contemporary and pioneer Black business owners and entrepreneurs in rural West Tennessee and raises funds for the organization's Follow Me Into Business® youth training and summer jobs program. Entertainment will be provided by the Rose Hill Middle School Dancers under the direction of Mona Lisa Lanier and the Harmonic Vibrations band.

In addition to those named above, other Historical Pioneers to be recognized during the February 27th event include singers Big Maybelle, Christine Chatman, Luther Ingram, and Laurice Lanier; musicians Joe Hunter, Joseph McKinney, Kurl McKinney, and John Parrish; The Jacksonians band and record promoter Dave Clark.

In addition to area ticket outlets and website, tickets for the Jewel Awards may be obtained through members of the board of directors, including Clarence Boone, Charles Adams, Katie Brantley, Grady Carter, Nell Huntspon, Camille Jacox, Garey Jenkins, Bill Marable, and Paul Reaves.

Winners of the 2015 contemporary small business awards will be announced in four categories at the event. The deadline for entries was February 2.

A 501(3)c nonprofit organization, the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1999 and established the Follow Me Into Business® youth development program in 2002.

For more information, visit the Chamber’s website at www.jmcaacc.org, call the office at 731-424-2030, or send an email to Executive Director Florence Howard at [email protected]. The chamber office is located at 351-C North Royal in Jackson, Tenn.

Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce serves small businesses in West Tennessee, assists in growth and development of member businesses, trains youth in job readiness and works in economic and community development.

01/19/2015

Events in Jackson for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday

Several events are planned in Jackson today through Tuesday to commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

05/07/2014

FERRELL AND SHARP TO CO-CHAIR
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER'S GOLF TOURNAMENT
AT BENT TREE GOLF COURSE – SEPTEMBER 9, 2014


The Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce (JMCAACC) is pleased to announce that Jim Ferrell and Chester Sharp will co-chair this year's golf tournament. Jim Ferrell, president and CEO of Jackson Energy Authority, is a returning co-chair from the 2013 tournament. Chester Sharp, vice-president and branch manager of the University Branch of BancorpSouth, has served as captain of the company team and has played in the tournament every year since it began in 2011. The 4th Annual Follow Me Celebrity Golf Classic will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, beginning at 11 a.m. at Bent Tree Golf Course, 2993 Paul Coffman Drive, Jackson, Tenn.

Last year’s tournament -- sponsored by Jackson Energy Authority, West Tennessee Healthcare, Lane College , University of Tennessee Martin along with WOJG-FM, the West Tennessee Examiner, the Jackson Sun and Jonah Affordable Housing Org. -- recognized 18 health care professionals. Winning teams for 2013 were: First Flight: Champions, Lee S. Berry State Farm of Brownsville; 2nd Place, JEA Team 2; 3rd Place, City of Jackson; Second Flight: 1st Place, Alexander Thompson Arnold; 2nd Place, AT&T; 3rd Place, Raymond James.

Jim Ferrell is also president of The Tennergy Corporation. A native Jacksonian and graduate of Jackson-Central-Merry High School , he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and later earned a MBA from University of Tennessee at Martin. Jim has spent his entire professional career at Jackson Energy Authority, starting in 1986 as a co-operative engineering student during his college years. During his career at JEA, he has promoted to various managerial positions, including Vice President of Operations, Senior Vice President of the Electric Division, and Chief Operating Officer. Jim is a registered professional engineer in Tennessee and a Water/Wastewater Plant Certified Operator.

Chester L. Sharp, Sr. is also a Jackson native, a graduate of Northside High School , and a cm laude graduate of Lane College , and holds a MBA from Bethel University . He has been employed with BancorpSouth since 2001. A graduate of the 2008 Leadership Jackson class, he is currently a member of the Board of West Tennessee Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a past board member of R.I.F.A., Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson and Jonah Affordable Housing, Inc. He has been awarded civic and community service awards from numerous organizations including Boys and Girls Clubs of Jackson, Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, WestStar and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. His hobbies include reading, teaching financial education seminars, coaching youth basketball and playing golf. He is married to Lesley A. Sharp and they have three children.

The annual tournament raises funds for the African American Chamber's youth development program. The Follow Me Into Business program was founded in 2002 to provide young people, 12-18, with job training skills and business basics training as well as mentoring, employment and community involvement opportunities. The year-round program also includes an 8-week Summer Program held in conjunction with T.R. White Sportsplex. This summer, the chamber will be able, once again, to provide 10 paid summer jobs for 16-18 year olds in conjunction with a funding grant from the City of Jackson .

The Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce is a 501(3)c nonprofit organization which was founded in 1999. The office is located at 351-C North Royal in Jackson , Tennessee . Clarence Boone, owner of C & L Grocery and Catering, is board president. Florence Howard is executive director and Mary Cunningham is office manager.