Born and raised in Westside Subdivision No. 2 in Ward 4, Princess Barber-Williams has spent her entire life in the community she now helps lead. Her roots run deep in Jackson, beginning with her early education in Catholic school before transferring to Jackson Public Schools in eighth grade. She graduated from Forest Hill High School and later attended Mississippi College in Clinton.

Ray McCants III came to Mississippi from Detroit with a scholarship and curiosity about business. What he found instead was a city full of possibilities. Through marketing, mentorship, and a belief in Jackson’s creative potential, he’s helping write its next chapter.

Perhaps the next best thing to sharing a meal with someone is meeting them for coffee. This is especially true in Jackson, where the opening of local coffee shops has been on caffeine for the last few years. But what’s beginning to stand out about the Jackson coffee scene is the opportunities it provides for people to gather. From coffee clubs to latte art throwdowns and annual events like the Jackson Coffee Festival, these events celebrate coffee culture in completely different ways and help to foster a growing sense of community in Jackson.