Since 2020, Ellen Bennett has served as the Online Sales Manager of Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) and is widely known in the Jackson community for her item listings in the RIFA Auction Group on Facebook. Twice a month, she conducts an online auction with around 80 unique items — all previously donated to the organization — for the public to bid on throughout the week. The proceeds of every auction item go to RIFA, a Jackson-based nonprofit with a mission to fight hunger locally, so item winners get to help provide meals to food-insecure members of the community with their purchases. For each listing, whether it’s a mid-century lamp, a tricycle, or a vegetable chopper, she comes up with a compelling description that’ll have anyone hooked.
Read MoreHabitat for Humanity Jackson, TN Area, Inc. (Habitat Jackson) has been working to improve the Jackson community since 1986. Known for serving low-income individuals and families by constructing affordable housing solutions, Habitat Jackson continues to expand its impact through the Aging in Place program.
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A Jackson Police Department officer stares into the face of a woman working as a prostitute; his only option was to arrest her. He had no evidence or proof to arrest the man who was likely her trafficker. But where would the officer take her? Years later, this same officer would write a check to the Scarlet Rope Project, a home for survivors of sex trafficking.
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It didn’t make sense to the kids in the room.
Consolidating Jackson City Schools and Madison County Schools had been a conversation in the Hub City since at least 1970, but social media and the 24-hour news cycle didn’t exist in the spring of 1992. That’s when Casshawndra Gillispie, a sophomore at the time, sat with other athletes in the West High School cafeteria and learned the school would be closing in just a few months. She and her classmates would have to continue their education and athletic careers at South Side High School.
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Jackson is home to some of the best mural artists in West Tennessee! In the past few years, the Mayor’s Public Art Initiative, and through efforts of many others like Our Jackson Home’s Artist in Residence program, there has been an explosion of new art popping up in and around Jackson. Whether you are joining us on this virtual tour, or going on adventure of your own, we hope you find time to explore our hometown in a new light by supporting these amazing artists. If you go on your own art-fueled adventure, we would love to see your photos! Use the hashtag #OJHmuraltour on Instagram to support local artists.
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