Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Chamber Confidential

www.metrochamber.com

Volume 2, Number 33 

Ross Tucker, Vice-President, Economic Development

The Other Side of Continuing Education in Jackson

Economic Development and Quality of Life go hand in hand.  Continuing education for Metro Jackson and Mississippi residents is an essential recruiting mechanism for the Metro Jackson Area. For more and more Mississippians, Jackson-area colleges and universities are moving to the forefront of their minds in choosing an institution of higher learning. With an increase in the number of Mississippians attending college, Metro-area schools are stepping up to the plate to attract prospective students. Furthermore, Jackson-area schools are not just becoming more popular in the eyes of Mississippians, but across the nation. The following are a few of the programs that students at Jackson’s six four-year colleges and universities and one two-year college are participating in to better the communities, state and country in which they live. Programs like these help the community from a number of factors.  First is the influence and guidance that college and university students take back into the community, showing high school and elementary students how to stay focused and helping them out from a mentoring standpoint.  The second factor is that the students at these colleges and universities are some of the best and brightest in the state of Mississippi.  They are here now, and we would like to keep them in the metro Jackson area. Students who are in these types of programs are our future business and community leaders.

Jackson State University, Mississippi’s Urban University is a proud supporter of JUMPSTART, a program established in 1993 by two Yale University students. The two students wanted to continue the inspirational work they had been doing over the summer with children. Thus, the founding of JUMPSTART. The early childhood program, uniting college students with preschool children, has a mission to engage young people in service to work toward the day every child in America will enter school prepared to succeed. JUMPSTART focuses on three major programs – School Success, Family Involvement, and Future Teachers. Since the fall of 2002, Jackson State students are living up to the challenge and are determined to better the lives of the youth in Jackson. One of JSU’s most celebrated fundraising events for JUMPSTART is “The Proving Grounds” talent show and freestyle battle between the students. In the last two years, the event has been very successful financially and featured former JSU students. JSU also sponsors “Jumpstart For A Day” (JFAD) in April, a one-day “learning” fair for area children and their parents. This JSU group of college students is also reaching out to children outside the state lines. JSU’s chapter of JUMPSTART touched the lives of the children of Gullah Sea Islands off the Carolina coast with their mentoring. The students were recently able to visit these children to see the fruits of their labor.

Belhaven College, a Christian liberal arts college, takes a unique approach to their missions work with The Joshua Squad, a performing arts ministry team. The team embodies theatre mime; mask and commedia while focusing on mission work in the arts. Since day one, the group has grabbed the attention and imagination of people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. The Joshua Squad performs with the Mississippi Symphony, for church functions and birthday parties, for civic groups and business meetings and other community events, all in an effort to finance their annual mission trip. The Joshua Squad went to Italy in 2005, Japan in 2006. Washington State in2003, England/Scotland in 2002, Southern Ukraine in 2001 and the Philippines in 2000.Through all their travels and performances, The Joshua Squad keeps one thing in mind...the attributes described by Paul in Philippians 4:8-9.“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9)

Millsaps College, founded in 1890 in conjunction with the United Methodist Church, is an independent national liberal arts institution. Millsaps’ Office of Multicultural Affairs was established to maintain and nourish the diversity of the students, faculty and staff of Millsaps College. The organization strives to aid and foster the students, faculty and staff in their understanding, acceptance of and ability to mesh with those individuals in the community who are different from them. Millsaps’ Office of Multicultural Affairs has many arms that work together to execute the programs goals and initiatives. The MCA Diversity Group and the students’ leadership group conduct weekly meetings to talk about topics that affect them personally and socially. The discussions are kept non-confrontational and easy-going to allow the individuals to reach inside themselves in order to make a difference and positively influence the world in which they live. Millsaps’ Passages, Poetry, & Pastries program takes a slightly more subdued approached to multicultural issues. Individuals are asked to present their best-loved writings to stimulate dialog about multicultural experiences they have had and to encourage others to speak out. Millsaps puts on an annual Multicultural Festival to boost cultural awareness in the community. The weeklong Festival was established to honor and praise diversity, featuring cultural exhibits, live music inspired by countless cultures, martial arts demonstrations, cultural dance lessons and delicious ethnic food.  “Our Best Start” is a program founded as an additive to freshman orientation, giving incoming students the opportunity to talk about the ins and outs of college life with caring individuals. An added bonus to the program is that it gives minority students and other freshman the chance to meet and get to know each other in a relaxed setting prior to the start of the semester.

Mississippi Business & Technology Expo   January   18 - 19, 2006 www.msbusiness.com/events     It is time again for the state's largest business-to-business networking event — the Mississippi Business & Technology EXPO. The event, presented by Roadrunner Business Class, will be held January 18,19 2006 at the Trade Mart in Jackson. It is a special project of the Mississippi Business Journal, Now in its 23nd year, EXPO will feature nearly 200 exhibits and is expected to attract thousands of attendees. In addition, the event will feature multiple awards programs, free seminars, door prizes, and more. Special drawings will be held for seminar attendees to win two free Southwest Airlines tickets; and visitors to the Cyber Café can register for a FREE computer from Ridgeland Computer Repair and Road Runner. Golf Pro Bob Ford will analyze swings, and many other attractions await EXPO attendees. "Over the course of more than two decades, the Mississippi Business Journal has worked diligently to grow the number of exhibitors, attendees and offerings at the show," said MBJ general manager Ron Jones. "We are going to provide a number of 'firsts' at this year's event, and we are really excited about the 2006 version of the EXPO." The EXPO's hours Wednesday, January 18, 2006, will be 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., including a Business After Hours networking party beginning at 5 p.m., and on Thursday, January 19 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The Top 40 Under 40 Luncheon will also be held January 18, beginning at noon, and will recognize 40 of Mississippi's top business and community leaders under the age of 40. The Business Woman of the Year Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. January 19. This award ceremony unveils the top business woman selected from the MBJ's previously held 50 Leading Business Women program. Special Projects Director, Robbie Bell, reports that outstanding entertainment, speakers and multi-media are once again on the agenda for each of these events.   The show is open to the public, and admission is free with a business card. For more information, call (601) 364-1000,    Whether you're an entrepreneur, a sole proprietor or CEO of a large corporation, this is one event you don't want to miss!   We hope to see you there!

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