Our Team’s Favorite Moments of 2023
In 2024, theCO celebrates its 10th anniversary! As we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our communities, we are eagerly anticipating the upcoming year and the transformations it will undoubtedly bring. Before we dive into 2024, we want to take a moment to reminisce on our staff’s favorite moments in 2023, ranging from pitch nights to the installation of the rockabilly crosswalk. It was an exciting year for our team! Read on to learn about just a few of the fun projects we tackled together.
Pitch Night
LISA GARNERFirst of all, I've got to say I find things like this soooo hard! The sum of what we do through theCO is often many small moments that add up to the big things. But for the sake of looking back on '23, I think my fav moment would have to be around the CO.STARTERS program and Pitch Night specifically. Pitch Night is a culmination of the program-- not so much cut-throat pitching to investors event but a way for program participants to sum up their business, share next steps, etc. There were a few entrepreneurs specifically that, through their pitches, I was able to see how they not only grew in knowledge but also their confidence and that is huge. I'm always amazed to see the growth from the first of the program to that event and this past year's Pitch Night didn't disappoint.
theLOCAL
BETH ANN SIMPSONIt has been fun to witness Downtown’s growth over the past year, especially the small businesses choosing to create spaces that build community. A highlight for me is the full circle moments created by theLOCAL incubator - from summer pop-ups like Seb’s, graduates like The Nine Oh Six moving to Main Street, and new tenants Sprinkle Me Sugar, Burn Your Truth & Grinning Soul Crochet growing as individual businesses all while creating opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and makers. It has been a joy to support this spirited, hard-working group of Downtown doers!
Crystal’s Zen and Juice
TRUNETTA ATWATERThe opening of Crystal's Zen and Juice at Jaxon Station was hands down the highlight of the year for Soul Collective. Crystal Brown, who started off as a participant in the first cohort, is now holding it down as the anchor at Jaxon Station. Seeing this whole project go from just an idea to a vibrant reality is a major win for us and shows our commitment to uplifting black entrepreneurs. Crystal's journey, going from being a part of the crew to running the show, perfectly embodies the chill and supportive vibe we aimed for in creating a safe space for black business owners. Zen and Juice wasn't just a business venture; it was born from Crystal's realization after retiring from the army that healing could happen through a vegan diet and art therapy. Her mission is to create a space at Jaxon Station where Jacksonians can chill and just be, fostering a community dedicated to holistic well-being and creative expression by providing a full vegan food and juice experience mixed with art therapy.
Walk Downtown
KATIE WEATHERFORDCollaborating with our team to create a Walkability Campaign for Downtown Jackson was such a fun project to take on. Addressing community development objectives such as wellness and connectivity through marketing and events was an exciting task. Our initiatives included the installation of wayfinding signage, the development of Downtown Jackson merch, and events like the Lavender Trail and Chalk Walk. Collaborating with Visit Jackson, we created walking itineraries and encouraged locals to contribute walking-related content to enhance the experience. Getting to work behind the scenes to promote all of the fun things happening Downtown is a really fun part of my job and I look forward to building on the momentum of this campaign in the coming year.
Rockabilly Walk
LIZZIE EMMONSI loved our collaboration with JDDC on the "Rockabilly Walk" crosswalk art installation on the intersection of Main and Church. We were able to gather over 50 community volunteers to install the design by local artist Callie Wright within two days. It was never about just adding art on the street (although it does look very cool); it was always about the collaboration of community members, government, and organizations to improve our Downtown together. This installation launched a huge wave of interest from the community in doing similar projects in the near future, and gave us all a little hope that we can collectively create a more colorful, vibrant Downtown together.