The Department of Communications is responsible for managing and coordinating all internal and external messaging for the organization. It oversees public relations, marketing campaigns, branding, social media, website content, media relations, and internal communications. The department ensures that information is clear, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s mission and goals. By developing strategic messaging and maintaining a strong public presence, the Communications Department helps build trust, strengthen reputation, and effectively engage key audiences.
The Department of Communications is responsible for managing and coordinating all internal and external messaging for the organization. It oversees public relations, marketing campaigns, branding, social media, website content, media relations, and internal communications. The department ensures that information is clear, consistent, and aligned with the organization’s mission and goals. By developing strategic messaging and maintaining a strong public presence, the Communications Department helps build trust, strengthen reputation, and effectively engage key audiences.
The Department of Communications for the City of Jackson is committed to keeping residents informed about important city initiatives, events, and public service updates. Through the News section, citizens can stay up to date on major announcements from city leadership, infrastructure improvements, public safety updates, and community programs taking place across Jackson.
Our goal is to provide timely and accurate information that helps residents stay engaged with what is happening in their city. The Communications Department works closely with city departments to share updates on policies, projects, and services that impact daily life in Jackson. From road improvements to community events, this page serves as a central place for official city news.
The City of Jackson believes that strong communication builds stronger communities. By regularly publishing news releases, media updates, and event highlights, the Department of Communications aims to increase transparency and strengthen the connection between local government and the people it serves. Residents are encouraged to check back frequently for the latest updates and announcements.
JACKSON, MS — Mayor John Horhn today announced his appointments to the newly established Metro Jackson Water Authority, following the signing of House Bill 1677 into law and in accordance with the appointment provisions outlined in the legislation. The new authority will provide oversight of Jackson’s water and wastewater systems and includes members appointed by the Mayor of Jackson, the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House, and other local leaders.
Mayor Horhn will recommend Major General (Retired) and CEO of MINACT Inc. Augustus Leon Collins for the gubernatorial appointment made in consultation with the Mayor, and, subject to City Council confirmation, will appoint Extension Specialist and Business Counselor for the Mississippi Small Business Development Center Shirley R. Tucker, Managing Partner of The Clearwater Group Austin Barbour, and President and CEO of Adonai Environmental Development and Power Daniel L. Walker. The legislation requires initial appointments to be made by May 1, 2026.
“Today’s appointments are an important step in ensuring Jackson is represented by committed leaders who understand the responsibility before us and are prepared to work for the long-term success of our water system,” said Mayor John Horhn.
General Collins brings executive leadership, public service experience, and a strong record of service that would be valuable to the work of the authority as it begins its responsibilities. As the leader of MINACT, one of the largest Black-owned corporations in Mississippi, he has demonstrated the kind of steady management and commitment this role requires. He also served as Adjutant General of both the Mississippi Army National Guard and the Mississippi Air National Guard, and he is a longtime member of New Hope Baptist Church, where he serves on the Deacon Board.
Shirley R. Tucker is a longtime Jackson, Mississippi resident. She previously spent more than two decades with the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership assisting businesses statewide and is co-owner of BATES Communication, LLC. She also served as Interim Chief of Staff for the Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, Inc. and the Women Business Center of MS, where she led programs to expand business opportunities. Mrs. Tucker holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Jackson State University and is a graduate of The Chamber Institute at the University of San Diego. She chairs The Redeemer School and the Jackson Leadership Foundation, serves on several local boards, and attends Redeemer Church with her husband, Ellis; they have three adult children.
Austin Barbour has been a resident of Jackson for more than twenty years. He and his wife, Deidre, have raised their two children (Bo and Ebbie) in the city while also being focused on giving back to the community through volunteer and leadership roles with their church, neighborhood, school and local athletic organizations. Austin serves as the Managing Partner of The Clearwater Group, one of the state’s leading public affairs firms, and is a partner with Strategic Partners & Media based in Annapolis, Maryland. Austin has built his career around working with others to build consensus on complex issues involving the government and the private sector.
Daniel L. Walker is an environmental and water treatment professional and graduate of Alcorn State University and Jackson State University, who began his career in upstate New York and received advanced training certifications through programs affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has served as a water treatment engineer for major industrial operations, including Grand Gulf Nuclear Station and Nissan, and has provided consulting on water treatment initiatives, including projects supporting NASA. Mr. Walker brings over 20 years of experience in emergency response, logistics coordination, and infrastructure planning.
Mayor Horhn and the City of Jackson remain committed to ensuring that Jackson has a majority vote on the water governing authority and will continue to keep all options open as the city considers the next steps, including any matters that may be subject to the authority of U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate.
First Performer Details Announced for 83rd National Folk Festival
In collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows featured in the 2026 program
Jackson, MS — The National Folk Festival revealed today the first eight artists who will be performing at the 83rd National Folk Festival in Downtown Jackson, November 13-15, 2026. This will be the second year of the festival’s three-year residency in Jackson, and it occupies a momentous place in observances of the country’s 250th anniversary. The 83rd National Folk Festival is an official event of Mississippi’s America250 celebration.
“Hosting the National Folk Festival for a second year is a tremendous honor for Jackson,” said Mayor John Horhn. “This celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, and of the artists who keep our stories alive, reflects the spirit, talent, and creativity that define our city.”
“There are no repeats at the National Folk festival, so audiences can expect an entirely new program at this year’s festival,” said Blaine Waide, executive director of the National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA). “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, the 83rd National Folk Festival will feature a special program honoring the best of the best in the traditional arts—from legendary blues, soul, and gospel performers with deep roots in Mississippi, to musicians and dancers that reflect the endless wellspring of artistic excellence and creativity from across the country. Best of all, it’s free!”
The festival is also participating this year in Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, a series of programs and exchanges marking the U.S. Semiquincentennial and showcasing the country’s remarkable cultural landscape. The National Folk Festival and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival share a common mission to shine a light on the richness and variety of America’s cultural communities and promote awareness and appreciation across cultures. With programming support from the Smithsonian, this year’s festival will honor some of the country’s most acclaimed traditional artists. Numerous National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellows—the nation’s highest honor for folk and traditional artists—will be featured in the program.
Approximately 300 artists—musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craftspeople—will take part in the National Folk Festival, with more than 30 different musical groups performing on as many as six outdoor performance venues throughout Downtown Jackson. The eight artists announced today include:
Capoeira Luanda (Brazilian capoeira)
New York, New York
Led by the nation’s premier capoeira master, this ensemble will astound with their display of an Afro-Brazilian tradition that fuses dance, martial arts, and acrobatics.
Mestre Jelon Vieira, leader of Capoeira Luanda, received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2008.
Eddie Cotton, Jr. (soul blues)
Clinton, Mississippi
This master of soul blues will move audiences, body and spirit, with blistering guitar work, stirring vocals, and a hard-driving style rooted in the church of his youth.
The Jerry Douglas Band (bluegrass)
Nashville, Tennessee
“Dobro’s matchless contemporary master,” the greatest innovator of the resonator guitar in the last half century—possibly the greatest ever.
Jerry Douglas received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2004.
Mississippi Mass Choir (gospel)
Jackson, Mississippi
Featuring the finest voices in Mississippi churches, one of the country’s great gospel choirs is sure to bring audience members to their feet with its powerful, inspiring, and uplifting sound.
Rahzel (beatboxing)
New York, New York
Redefining the possibilities of the human voice, this one-time member of the Roots sparked a beatbox renaissance.
Raiatea Helm (Hawaiian falsetto singing)
Honolulu, Hawai’i
One of the preeminent female vocalists from Hawai’i keeping the flame for the islands’ distinctive falsetto singing tradition.
Rebolú (Colombian)
Queens, New York, and Tampa, Florida
The foremost Afro-Colombian ensemble in the United States plays the rich, rhythmic, and undeniably danceable music of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Rondalla Club of Los Angeles (Philippine rondalla)
Los Angeles, California
Arguably the most outstanding Philippine rondalla in the nation, this ensemble is at the forefront of performing and preserving this delightful stringed instrument tradition in the United States.
Tagumpay de Leon, or “Uncle Pi,” received an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 2021.
Over 15 people of different backgrounds—and with a deep knowledge of music and art forms—came together from across Mississippi to serve as the local Festival Programming Advisory Committee. This committee’s role is to consider—and help the NCTA select—the artists who will perform at the National Folk Festival each year.
To learn more about these artists and their stories, please visit nationalfolkfestival.com/artists. The National Folk Festival will feature individual artists on its Facebook page (facebook.com/NFFJackson) and Instagram (instagram.com/NFFJackson) throughout the summer.
More performers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Performer assets may be downloaded here: bit.ly/NFFPressKit.
The National Folk Festival is a partnership of the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Jackson, Jackson Redevelopment Authority, Visit Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, the Mississippi Arts Commission, the Mississippi Humanities Council, Visit Mississippi, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the National Park Service. The festival is FREE to the public.
This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years.
Choose to Grow Students to Showcase Businesses at Market Day Following Shark Tank Competition
Jackson, MS – The Juanita Sims Doty Foundation is inviting the community to support student entrepreneurs at its upcoming Choose to Grow Market Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in front of the Jackson Convention Complex.
The event follows the Foundation’s recent Shark Tank Competition, held March 30, where more than 70 middle school students from Canton, Jackson, Okolona and Tupelo presented original business ideas and products before a panel of judges. Students competed for nine awards totaling more than $2,900 and are now preparing to bring their products to the public marketplace.
Through the Choose to Grow Afterschool Program, students work with mentors to develop, refine and produce their business concepts. Market Day gives those young entrepreneurs an opportunity to sell directly to the community and keep the profits from their sales.
The City of Jackson has been a valued partner in supporting the Choose to Grow Afterschool Program. First Lady Lydia Gail Horhn serves as the program’s Honorary Champion. Her support has included participation in several key initiatives and events, including the Back to School Bash, Presidents-Mentor Training, Dining Etiquette Experience and the Shark Tank Competition.
“Programs like Choose to Grow help equip young people with confidence, practical skills and the vision to see what is possible for their future,” said First Lady Lydia Gail Horhn.
“This is an opportunity to show these students that we honor their hard work and that we believe in them. We are a part of their village, so let’s celebrate all of their efforts,” said Karla McCullough, Choose to Grow Project Director.
Community members, families and supporters are encouraged to attend Market Day and purchase products from the Choose to Grow Ambassadors and Gems and participating student entrepreneurs. The event is designed to celebrate student creativity, entrepreneurship and community investment in the next generation.
For more information, please contact: kmccullough@jsdfoundation.com, 678-907-0057 or jsimsdoty@gmail.com, 601-566-9039.
City of Jackson’s Statement on Federal Court Review of HB 1677
Earlier this week, Mayor John Horhn and the City filed a motion asking the federal district court to enjoin implementation of HB 1677, the state law that would create a Metro Water Authority with only three board members appointed by the City. The motion argued that the State was preempted from passing legislation that seeks to take authority away from the federal court, which HB 1677 clearly attempts to do. The City’s legal position is that only the federal court can determine what happens next with the City’s water system. Today, Judge Henry Wingate issued a preliminary injunction that bars the authority from taking any action other than appointing its members. Judge Wingate also requested time to review HB 1677 and determine whether the law encroaches on the authority of the federal court.
“Just as the city is concerned about the state encroaching on Jackson’s authority to manage its affairs, the court likewise has questions as to whether the state encroaches on federal authority regarding the future of Jackson water and waste water,” said Mayor John Horhn.
Judge Wingate has given all parties ten days to submit briefs that address their positions on this matter. No action can be taken by the authority except for the seating of board members until the judge issues his final ruling.
Local Vendors Encouraged to Apply for National Folk Festival Marketplace
Jackson, MS — Local artisans, craftspeople, and specialty vendors are encouraged to apply for a spot in the Marketplace at the 83rd National Folk Festival, which returns to downtown Jackson November 13–15, 2026.
The Festival Marketplace features juried, handmade creations from artists and craftspeople, with priority given to Mississippi vendors. Organizers are especially seeking strong local participation as the early bird application deadline closes on April 10, and the final deadline is June 1.
Vendors selected for the Marketplace will be chosen based on artistry, distinctiveness, craftsmanship, traditionality when applicable, connection to state, regional or local traditions, relationship to their cultural or artistic community, and booth presentation.
The Marketplace will feature both traditional crafts and more contemporary artistic expressions. Eligible items include handmade artwork, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, pottery, folk and traditional crafts, and packaged made-in-Mississippi or Deep South food products. Commercial reproductions, manufactured items, kits, and molds are not permitted.
To support local participation, the Mississippi Arts Commission offers Mini-Grants for Individual Artists, providing $500 in funding to help offset the costs of professional development and participation in events like the National Folk Festival Marketplace. The application window for these grants is May 1 – June 1.
These funds can help make participation more accessible by covering expenses such as:
· Booth fees (Marketplace booths are approximately $350 for the weekend)
· Application fees (including the $35 non-refundable fee if accepted)
· Lodging and mileage to attend the festival
· Promotional materials such as custom tablecloths, business cards, labels, and packaging
Applicants are encouraged to review the Marketplace Vendor Guidelines before applying. Additional information and application details are available at:
https://www.nationalfolkfestival.com/marketplace-vendor-guidelines
Applications for both the NFF Vendor Marketplace and Mississippi Arts Commission Individual Artist Mini-Grants are available at:
www.arts.ms.gov/apply
For local vendors interested in sharing their work with thousands of festivalgoers, now is the time to apply.
The Communications Department serves as the primary point of contact for members of the media and the public seeking official information from the City. This section provides media contact information for press inquiries, access to the city’s press release archive, and guidelines for requesting interviews or filming on city property. Journalists and media representatives can use this page to find the appropriate contacts, review official announcements, and learn the procedures for coordinating interviews with city officials or staff. Guidance for photography, video recording, and news coverage requests is also provided to help ensure an organized and timely response.
