Wanted: Action-oriented, Self-starter to Foster Growth in Jackson’s Iconic Fondren Community
by Cathy Boone
Photo: Visit Jackson
When our Executive Director Rebecca Garrison announced her retirement plans for 2025, we knew we had an important task ahead. Having just completed a year-long community planning process, our board had 40 strategies for community growth to prioritize and implement in addition to the routine duties of keeping Fondren the destination it has become. While much will be expected of Garrison’s successor, we have an incredible support system in place to ensure the viability of the vibrant community. “It is an exciting time for Fondren and a critical time for continuing Fondren’s success,” Garrison said.
Fondren consists of around 6,000 residents over a 3-square-mile radius. In addition to “downtown” Fondren, there are commercial nodes along North State Street and the popular Banner Hall along I-55. We have an active business community, a thriving hospitality sector offering more than 30 places to eat and drink, and warm and engaged residential neighborhoods. While Fondren’s future will be the main focus for our next executive director, Fondren’s past is an important indicator of our community identity.
Fondren’s history dates back to the 1800’s and two important developments. One was the creation of the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum, which eventually became the economic anchor we now know as the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The other was Black entrepreneur Isham Cade, who sowed the seeds of the community by developing Cade’s Alley in what’s now Fondren and making opportunities available for the formerly enslaved. As an organization and community, we have a grassroots passion for celebrating our diversity and creativity and making everyone feel at home.
“If family responsibilities weren’t influencing my need to step away, I would consider this next chapter for Fondren’s future a career opportunity of a lifetime,” Garrison said. “The people, the plans, the energy … it all adds up to a fun, interesting, rewarding chance for the right person to make a real difference for Fondren and our Metropolitan Area.”
We encourage anyone interested to visit www.fondren.org for a job description and information about how to apply for this great opportunity. From our perspective, the best days for Fondren are still to come!
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