In case you’re a fan of “Sunday funday” or just plain lazy Sundays, here’s something that’ll help you kick back and relax with some fun. The 2012 Jackson Jamboree will take place this Sunday, October 7, at the Spencer Perkins Center (1831 Robinson Road). The event includes musical performances by Switchfoot, the Mississippi Mass Choir, Dathan Thigpen, and a list of others.

Plus, there will be a 3 on 3 basketball tournament hosted by Brilla and the Jackson Showboats.

The event kicks off at 1 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. So grab your lawn chair and purchase your $7 ticket and prepare to be entertained.

For more information, visit www.thejacksonjamboree.com.

Photo by Amani Hasan

For many, fireworks mean two things: either it’s the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day or it’s Independence Day with the smell of bar-b-que in the atmosphere. Maybe it’s fitting to add a third celebration to your fireworks repertoire. Today and tomorrow signify a special moment in many lives. It’s graduation time at Jackson State University and it marks a new start of independence for the many students who will walk across the stage.

Commencement exercises begin tonight at 6 p.m. with ceremonies for 300 graduate students at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center. The commencement address will be given by Marybeth Gasman, a scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. Once the sun sets, there will be a fireworks display on the main campus between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. This festive show is the start of a new tradition at JSU to honor each of the university’s newest alumni.

On Saturday, it will be time for the undergraduate students to shine. 1,321 of them to be exact. Commencement exercises for these students will begin at 8 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium with Newark, NJ mayor, Cory A. Booker delivering the address.

This is the utmost time for celebration as we give our sincerest congratulations to a new class of JSU alumni.

Included in the photo (from left) Brian Johnson, Jud Watkins, Andrea Jones, Aisha Nyandoro, Bobby James, Kelly McMullan.

Leadership Greater Jackson’s Class of 2012 Team Barr recently kicked off their first project at Barr Elementary School in Jackson. They held a Bulldog Bistro which included the team showing the kids fun ways to exercise and how to make fruit smoothies.

The Leadership Greater Jackson Program, which is a program of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, is a community-wide leadership program that develops existing and emerging leaders in the metro area. The program is designed to educate participants about major community issues and alternate approaches to solutions to community problems.

If you like the photo above, there’s more where that came from. Check out the rest of the pictures on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

(Note: Thanks to West Jackson resident, deborah Rae Wright for notifying us about this event. Both the text and picture for this post were created by Jenny Woodruff.)

Voice of Calvary Ministries has been living by the mantra of rebuilding communities and changing lives for well over three decades. Phil Reed, the executive director of VOCM and a West Jackson resident, has envisioned revitalized neighborhoods on the west side for many, many years. Now, it appears that the organization would like to cast a broader vision.

VOCM is in the process of applying for funding to support a master plan for West Jackson. This plan will involve the input of interested residents and stakeholders. To get an idea of what’s involved in crafting the plan, VOCM is inviting interested persons to attend a public hearing tomorrow in their offices (531 W. Capitol St., accessible from the Robert Smith Sr. Parkway, next to Koinonia Coffee House). The hearing starts at 9:00 a.m.

Here’s the invitation in their words:

Notice of Public Hearing

Voice of Calvary Ministries is applying for a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority, Disaster Recovery Division, under the 2008 Supplemental Disaster Recovery Fund, Community Development Block Grant Program.  This application is for funds to conduct a master planning process for west Jackson.  The targeted area is bounded by Ellis Avenue on the west, to Fortification Street on the north, to Gallatin Street on the east to Highway 80 on the south.  If approved, the funds will be used to develop a comprehensive Master Plan for this area that will survey the physical, economic, social and political conditions to determine a course of action for re-vitalization that will serve to coordinate stakeholders, and to identify key public and private interventions, including rehabilitation of existing houses and buildings, as well as new construction.  This process will be driven by the needs identified by community residents and stakeholders.  A public hearing to solicit input from local residents and other interested parties will be held on Wednesday, February 29^th at 9:00am at the Voice of Calvary Ministries office, 531 W. Capitol Street, Jackson, MS.  Please direct questions to Phil Reed by telephone at 601-969-3088, ext. 12, or via email to philreed@vocm.org.

Photo from Barr Elementary's website

Not really sure how this one slipped by us, but we–the bearers of good news–are elated to spread the word about more good news. The Clarion Ledger reported on January 4 that Barr Elementary is one of only 66 schools in the country to to be designated as a National Title I Distinguished School for 2011. The National Title I Association describes the honor as follows:

These schools are recognized either for exceptional student performance overall, or for significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups.  The schools are selected for national recognition by their State Departments of Education based on state-determined criteria, such as use of research-based instructional strategies, implementation of sustained research-based professional development, or established partnerships with parents, families and the community.

So congratulations to Principal Candra Nelson and the rest of the faculty and staff at Barr Elementary. Education is definitely the first step to a resurgent West Jackson.

If you have time, also make sure to read this Clarion Ledger article on Barr by reporter Marquita Brown.

Before and after pecan pies. (Photo by Keeyon Upkins)

We’ll be the first to admit it…Santa probably won’t be getting us a gift on Black Friday because, well, we’ve been rightfully placed on the naughty list. Why? Because our postings on this blog have been minimal and sporadic at best.

Nevertheless, we want you to know that we are very thankful to have you as a reader and a staunch supporter of all things positive in West Jackson. So this Thanksgiving Day goes to you. Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. We may be on the nice list when it comes to our Facebook and Twitter accounts, so make sure to fan and follow us there.

Photo from Hawkins Field Air Show's Facebook Page

Looks like cool weather made it just in time for the weekend. If you’re looking for something different to do, check out the annual Hawkins Field Air Show. Hosted by the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, the show was created as a public service the community and provides great family entertainment.

The event takes place Saturday, October 1, from 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (gates open at 9:30 a.m.) and Sunday, October 2, from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (gates open at 11:30 a.m.).

This event draws thousands of people each day, so make sure that you get there early! Now, since it’s approaching 4:30, feel free to soar into the weekend.