6 Ways JSU Engages with the Jackson Community
Heather Denne at Friday Forum at Refill Jackson
At a recent Friday Forum at Refill Jackson, Jackson State University (JSU) Office of Community Engagement Executive Director Heather Denne outlined many ways the university engages with the local community. University engagement in the community is essential for fostering social, economic, and cultural development. By collaborating with local organizations, neighborhoods, businesses, and residents, JSU can address pressing societal challenges, promote lifelong learning, and contribute to economic growth. “There should be a benefit to our neighbors for living next to Jackson State,” Denne said. “Jackson State Community Engagement wants to be your good neighbor and show you how it benefits you to live near us.”
Gowdy-Washington Addition
The Gowdy-Washington Addition community is within walking distance of JSU off John R. Lynch Street. The area served as a social hub for Jackson’s Black residents throughout the 20th century and was pivotal in the National Civil Rights Movement. “Washington Addition was one of the first African-American communities after Emancipation where you could purchase land and own property,” Denne said. To tell its story and preserve its history, the JSU Community Engagement collected oral histories of residents, published a book and website, and curated a 50s-themed exhibition in Downtown Jackson to celebrate the neighborhood in 2023. “This came from the community wanting to capture the stories of the community’s elders, so we set out to ensure that the stories are captured forever and the story of Washington Addition was told methodically,” Denne said. JSU also administered a survey to receive feedback on whether the community wanted to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Public Art Murals
Public art enhances community identity, fosters cultural expression, and makes art accessible to everyone, transforming shared spaces into sources of inspiration and dialogue. Through funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission in 2021, JSU Community Engagement completed the Chain Breakers Mural on the side of the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO) Civil Rights Education Center at JSU. The mural represents trailblazers of the West Jackson community and was a collaboration between Washington Addition, Hemingway Circle, and Pecan Tree Park, neighborhoods surrounding JSU. “Neighborhoods worked closely with our office to identify who they wanted to see on the wall,” Denne said. Alyce G. Clarke, Fannie Lou Hamer, Bob Moses, Rose Elizabeth Howard Robinson, Albert Powell, and Louise Marshall are featured on the mural.
COFO Mural “Chain Breakers” Photo credit: The Mississippi Link
Public art on traffic signal boxes transforms ordinary infrastructure into vibrant canvases, adding color, creativity, and local character to urban streetscapes. Traffic signal boxes on University Boulevard, at Prentiss and Robinson Street, and on JSU’s campus serve as tributes to JSU’s impact on the local community. The most recent traffic signal box mural, “A Beacon of Light,” was unveiled in February on the corner of Prentiss and Robinson Street across from Greater Bethlem Temple Church. Artist Sabrina Howard was commissioned to produce both public art installations.
JSU/Blackburn Learning Garden
The JSU/Blackburn Learning Garden, a collaboration between JSU and Blackburn Middle School since 2016, is a community learning garden and outdoor classroom where students learn about gardening and food production. “It’s at an intersection where Blackburn Middle School, Jackson State University, and the community all touch each other. So, we thought, why not build a beautiful garden space,” Denne said.
Photo credit: Jackson Public Schools
The space, owned by JSU, has 17 raised beds, an outdoor classroom, a solar-paneled watering system, and is ADA-compliant. Nearly $100,000 has been invested in the garden over the years, and it has shown to have positive outcomes for students. “The biggest thing about this project is teaching students how to grow and eat healthy foods. When students know they are going to the garden, they are calm and better behaved. Or, if they go to the garden and then return to take a test, they tend to concentrate better. Those are some social effects of what’s happening in the garden,” Denne said. The late Betty Lyons, former president of the University Park neighborhood, was instrumental in supporting and championing this project. The annual Student-Led Farmers Market is scheduled for May 9, 2025. Students will sell produce to the community and will keep the money earned from the family-friendly event.
The Crop Drop
Photo credit: William Kelly, III/JSU
Community engagement provides students with hands-on learning experiences, helping them develop critical skills, civic responsibility, and a deeper understanding of real-world issues. Mississippi struggles with food insecurity, with many rural and low-income communities classified as food deserts, where access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food is limited. The bi-annual Crop Drop is a community service event where JSU students and staff distribute free sweet potatoes and other produce to the West Jackson community. “I love this event because our students come out in droves and put theory into practice; meaning, if they are getting their degree in sociology or learning about food deserts and impoverished communities, they get to touch and see the real impact of this work. We typically serve between 500 and 1,000 families within two hours,” Denne said. This year’s first Crop Drop was held on Saturday, March 22.
Grant-Funded Projects
By securing external funding, JSU can implement programs that address community-specific needs without burdening taxpayers. Additionally, grant-funded projects foster collaboration between government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses, creating a network of support that enhances long-term community resilience. These projects drive positive change, improve quality of life, and empower communities to thrive:
Five Little Free Libraries (one is located at the Blackburn Learning Garden)
Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition, funded by the Department of Mental Health and the Mississippi Office of Highway Safety
National Park Service Preservation of COFO Center, Ayer Hall, Zachary T. Hubert building
Home Depot has provided $50,000 to JSU Community Engagement for ring cameras for elderly residents. “The elderly said they don’t feel safe at night, so we wrote a grant with Willa Womack and Battlefield Park. It was her idea. We will install 150 cameras by April 15. It’s exciting work,” Denne said. Also, funding is pending to fix a leak in the M.W. Stringer Masonic Grand Lodge, which caused damage to Medgar Ever’s field office.
Historical Preservation
Historic preservation in neighborhoods is vital for maintaining cultural heritage, fostering community pride, and promoting sustainable development by preserving the unique character and architectural legacy of the past. JSU has been instrumental in placing a number of spaces and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. “First of all, you want to be nationally recognized. Secondly, resources are available once you are deemed worthy of preservation,” Denne said. “For example, in 2017, we got Mount Olive Cemetery listed, and in 2019, we received half a million dollars for its preservation.” Stamps Superburger in Washington Addition was listed on the national register in 2019, Jacob Reddix Home in 2020, and the John R. Lynch Street Civil Rights Corridor in 2025.
900 Block Revitalization & Streetscape
The Lynch Street Long-Range Plan aims to preserve history while providing a new economic and tourism boost for the West Jackson community. “We have a collection of buildings on this 3-block mile that tell the authentic, historic, triumphant story of Black folks in Mississippi,” Denne said. “The Lynch Street Corridor Plan harps on the authentic history of these spaces as a basis for economic development and revitalization. We’re setting out to create the first successful African-American District in Mississippi and we’re excited about the work.”
Through service initiatives, partnerships, and outreach programs, the university continues to make a lasting impact on local neighborhoods, empowering individuals and promoting positive change. By bridging the gap between academic resources and community needs, JSU remains committed to building a stronger, more engaged Jackson—one initiative at a time.
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