JFP Blogs - Blogging Jackson and Mississippi

Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Alesha Judkins 8×01

By Dustin Cardon | February 14, 2020

Alesha Judkins is the State Director for Criminal Justice Reform at Fwd.us, a bipartisan group founded by leaders in the technology and business communities seeking meaningful reform in the areas of immigration and criminal justice. She spoke with Jackson Free Press editor-in-chief Donna Ladd about the fact that Mississippi has the third highest level of incarceration, and how that’s affecting public safety and crime rates. Alesha Judkins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesha-judkins-46a373101/

Let’s Talk Jackson is sponsored by Mississippi Federal Credit Union. This episode is brought to you by the members of the JFP VIP Club. Join at jfp.ms/VIP and help support JFP programming such as Let’s Talk Jackson. Continue Reading

Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Merritt Baria 7×21

By Dustin Cardon | December 26, 2019

Merritt Baria is a 23-year-old political strategist in Mississippi who grew up in Jackson and on the Gulf Coast, and is now living back in the capital city. The daughter of outgoing Mississippi House Minority Leader David Baria, Merritt talks with Donna Ladd about the need for more women to run for office in the state and for strategists to take a wider view of who is a “viable” candidate or not. She plans to help more women, in particular, run for and win office as she did with incoming House Rep. Shanda Yates. Merritt Baria on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/merritt-baria-73b426a3/

Let’s Talk Jackson is sponsored by Mississippi Federal Credit Union. This episode is brought to you by the members of the JFP VIP Club. Continue Reading

Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Mukesh Kumar 7×20

By Dustin Cardon | December 13, 2019

Dr. Mukesh Kumar is an associate professor at Jackson State University who recently finished a two-year stint as the director of planning and development for the City of Jackson. He sat down with Todd Stauffer to discuss his time with the City and what the discipline of planning can (and can’t) do to improve the quality of life in a place like Jackson. Let’s Talk Jackson is sponsored by Mississippi Federal Credit Union; this episode also is brought to you by the Center for Art & Public Exchange at the Mississippi Museum of Art. More at http://museumcape.org/. jsdfoundation.com
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Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Arekia Bennett 7×19

By Dustin Cardon | November 27, 2019

Arekia Bennett is Executive Director of Mississippi Votes, which works to get young people involved in voting. Arekia graduated from Bailey Magnet High School and got her bachelors degree in Physics from Jackson State University. While at JSU, she got heavily involved in activism and advocacy, largely around women’s reproductive issues and issues affecting women of color. She spoke with editor-in-chief Donna Ladd about her work in getting young people and people of color engaged in the democratic process. msvotes.org/

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Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Shanda Yates 7×18

By Dustin Cardon | November 21, 2019

Shanda Yates is a 38-year old attorney and mother who surprised a lot of people this year by winning the Mississippi House seat in district 64 over long-time Republican incumbent Bill Denny. One of Mississippi Democrats only bright spots on election night, Shanda knocked on thousands of doors and focused on issues important to her as a Millennial, a woman, a mother and as a product of public schools. She talked about how it all came together with Jackson Free Press’ editor in chief, Donna Ladd. www.facebook.com/shanda.yates.7

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This episode is brought to you by the members of the JFP VIP Club. Join at jfp.ms/VIP and help support JFP programming such as Let’s Talk Jackson. Continue Reading

Let's Talk Jackson

Let’s Talk Jackson: Karla McCullough 7×17

By Dustin Cardon | November 2, 2019

Dr. Karla McCullough graduated from Callaway High School in Jackson in the mid-1990s and then immediately left the state, getting her undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University in Psychology and a masters in public administration from Auburn University. After having a son and feeling the tug of home, she return to Mississippi, where she got a PhD in Urban Higher Education from Jackson State University. She’s the executive director of the Juanita Simms Doty Foundation, which offers, among other initiatives, the Evers Academy for African American Males, which is a program to inspire young men of color to honor the life and legacy of slain civil rights work Medgar Evers as they interact with a “village” of role models and mentors. jsdfoundation.com
This episode is brought to you by the members of the JFP VIP Club. Join at jfp.ms/VIP and help support JFP programming such as Let’s Talk Jackson. Continue Reading