Jackson Branch NAACP Launches “ReBUILDing Jackson” Community Workshop Series

Five-part series will bring residents, experts and community leaders together to address environmental justice, health, housing and neighborhood resilience

September 4, 2026 - JACKSON, Miss. — The Jackson Branch NAACP, in partnership with the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods, will launch ReBUILDing Jackson, a five-part Community Workshop Series designed to equip Jackson residents with information, resources and practical tools to address some of the most persistent challenges affecting their neighborhoods.

Beginning Monday, September 14, the series will bring workshops directly into communities across Jackson, focusing on environmental justice, health, housing and resilience. Residents will have opportunities to hear from experts, ask questions, share neighborhood concerns and identify solutions that can help build a stronger, healthier and more equitable Jackson.

“Too many Jackson residents have lived with the consequences of disinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure, flooding, blight and environmental inequities for generations,” said Nsombi Lambright-Haynes, President of the Jackson Branch NAACP. “ReBUILDing Jackson is about making sure residents not only understand how we got here, but also have the information and tools necessary to advocate for where we go next. Our neighborhoods deserve investment, accountability and a meaningful voice in the decisions that shape their future.”

The series begins at 6 p.m. Monday, September 14, at the Jayne Avenue Community Center, 3615 Jayne Avenue, with a Ward 5 workshop examining redlining, blight, drainage and environmental inequity. This particular workshop is in partnership with the Jayne Avenue Neighborhood Association.

Additional workshops include:

• September 17 | Wards 1 & 2: Flooding, Climate & Economic Stability: Who Pays the Price? — St. Phillips Episcopal Church, 5400 Old Canton Road

• September 21 | Wards 4 & 6: Jackson’s Water Story: From the Pipes Beneath Us to the Future of Our Water System — Peggy Hobson Calhoun/Willowood Community Center, 4331 Willowood Boulevard

• September 28 | Wards 3 & 7: When the Hydrant Runs Dry: Water Quality, Health & Neighborhood Safety — Jackson Medical Mall, Room C311, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Avenue

• October 10 | All Wards: Homeownership: Purchasing, Protecting & Preserving — Jackson Medical Mall, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Avenue, from 9 a.m. until noon

  
  

“Environmental justice is not an abstract issue—it shows up in the condition of our streets, the drainage around our homes, the quality of our water, the presence of abandoned properties and whether families can safely remain in the neighborhoods they call home,” said Felicia Brown Tripp, Chair of the Jackson Branch NAACP Environmental Justice Committee. “These workshops are designed to connect those everyday experiences to the larger systems and policies behind them, while helping residents identify resources and solutions they can use to protect their homes, families and communities.”

Each workshop will feature information from subject-matter experts, resources for residents and families, opportunities for participants to share their concerns, and discussion of strategies residents can use to strengthen their neighborhoods.

All Jackson residents are encouraged to attend, regardless of ward. Refreshments,  including vegan options, will be available.

The ReBUILDing Jackson Community Workshop Series reflects the Jackson Branch NAACP’s commitment to ensuring residents are informed, engaged and empowered to help shape the future of their communities.