“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Obviously it’s a question you get asked less and less the older you get — “What is your dream?”
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I knew who Ontoni Reedy was long before I ever spoke to him. He is one of those people whose reputation precedes them, the kind of man who everyone can attribute something positive to even if they do not know him personally. It came as no shock to me that, when polled, our community chose to recognize him as someone who is contributing to building culture. He is always building something and the list of his contributions spans theater and education and cuisine.
Read MoreThrough cultural arts, music history, city celebrations, the farmers market, and local shops, a common thread of community weaves through these spaces. These spaces create a sense of belonging because of the relationships built in and around them. These relationships look like business owners collaborating and creating together, not to compete but cheer each other on. It looks like organizations and leaders working together for new ideas and solutions. It looks like residents, employees, and customers walking to work or having lunch with their neighbor.
Read MoreWhen my husband Charlie and I started dreaming about the future of the frame shop that has been in his family for three generations, I always knew that there was no future, for me, without including gallery space in some capacity. Custom framing would always be the major part of the Havner’s equation, but I simply could not see a way to move forward with our version of the shop without a way to bring our community together in a meaningful way, and I knew art was the ideal vehicle to do it.
Read MoreGrowing up in Jackson, for me, has meant growing with Jackson. Over the course of my life, I have seen this beautiful city expand in so many ways: from new businesses to new opportunities to new people. Increased community involvement, diversity, and population growth have played a significant role in my experience with Jackson over the years; so many programs have been set in place to make Jackson a better place to live. But most of all, Jackson serves as a place of connection.
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