One Voice celebrates 10 years of community empowerment

One Voice’s ninth Annual Mississippi Black Leadership Summit continues a journey through community engagement, development and advocacy with the event Oct. 20-21, at the Jackson Downtown Marriott. MBLS is an event where individuals involved in the solution creation process in Mississippi can weigh in on the real issues facing their unique communities as well the larger general community. #MBLS2016 sessions will address issues surrounding social justice, state government takeover attempts and predictions of the future of civic engagement. One of the highlighted speakers of the event is Mayor Stephen Benjamin of Columbia, S.C. One of the speakers at the 2016 National Democratic Convention, Benjamin has been recognized in his city and nationally for his work in community strengthening and building. Benjamin has been deemed a leader of My Brother’s Keeper, President Barack Obama’s initiative designed to empower young boys and men of color. The mayor was also recognized nationally for representing popular radio personality Tom Joyner in securing a posthumous pardon for Joyner’s great uncles who were wrongfully convicted in the murder of a confederate veteran in 1913. MBLS is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Registration is provided on onsite; however, preregistrants will receive first preferences. Preregistration closes Oct. 10. Special hotel rates are available for anyone who books by Oct. 9. To register visit www.onevoicems.org.

Next meeting of Hinds County Human Resource Agency set for Oct. 19

Hinds County Human Resource Agency will host its next monthly Board of Directors meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 19, at its Central Office located at 258 Maddox Road, Jackson. The public is invited to attend.  The final two meeting dates for this year are Nov. 16 and Dec. 21. For more information, call (601) 923-1838

Operation Shoestring plans open house for Lights On Afterschool

On Oct. 20, Operation Shoestring will hold an open house as part of Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide rally for after-school programs that is expected to include some 7,500 events this year. In all, one million Americans are expected to join in events across the country to draw attention to the need for more after-school programs. Operation Shoestring’s Lights On Afterschool event will be held at its 1711 Bailey Avenue location from 3 – 5 p.m. The event will include a presentation of Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s Proclamation of Lights on Afterschool Day, as well as a chance for attendees to participate alongside Operation Shoestring’s youth in the after-school activities that will be underway as a part of its regular programming. Operation Shoestring currently serves around 250 youth in central Jackson, providing them a safe place to go after the school day ends. Operation Shoestring parents, donors, volunteers and partners are invited to attend, as well as anyone who wishes to show their support for after-school in Mississippi. For further information about the event, contact Robert Langford at (601) 353-6336 or rlangford@operationshoestring.org. For more information about Lights On Afterschool or about afterschool programs in general, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Jackson Fire Department’s Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service set

The Jackson Fire Department will have a memorial service in memory of fallen firefighters at 10 a.m. Oct. 12 at the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, 201 South President Street in Jackson. Lunch will be served inside of the first floor conference room, immediately after the memorial service.