Streetlights are getting fixed, debris is being cleared faster and neighbors who once felt ignored are now sitting at the table with city leaders.
That’s the impact of the Community Action Team, or CAT, in the Hub City’s Ward 5, where a group of residents is reshaping how neighborhoods engage with City Hall.
“We have raised visibility of Ward 5 concerns (and) increased civic engagement across neighborhoods,” said Sandra Chambers Jerald, a CAT member. “We have helped residents feel heard, informed and involved.”
From a list to a movement
CAT officially formed in September 2022, but its origins were simple: organizing a list to help city crews collect debris more efficiently. Eric Steele, the group’s founder and board member, said he noticed trucks wasting time driving around without a clear plan.
“My thought process was … maybe the easiest thing is to develop a list and tell them where to go,” Steele said. “That makes sure our stuff gets picked up, and it helps them reduce their time.”
That grassroots solution sparked momentum. In the months that followed, more residents got involved, and CAT took on broader issues, including infrastructure, safety, access to public spaces and civic engagement.
Their first major initiative was a street lighting project — a direct response to safety concerns. In 2023, WDAM reported a $1 million lighting upgrade that added 100 new streetlights along U.S. 49, a key corridor in Ward 5.
“There’s so many good things happening in our little world down here,” said Ann McCullen, who lives in the area. “Now there’s beautiful lighting, and it’s such a great entryway to Hattiesburg.”
Moving forward, CAT members want to expand their reach and explore solutions in other areas, including education and environmental improvements.
Steele said stronger litter regulations and upgrades to local schools could help sustain community engagement. One idea is installing an illuminated sign outside Rowan Elementary to improve visibility and neighborhood pride.
Ongoing challenges
Despite the progress, McCullen said many residents still face deep-rooted problems, particularly related to poverty, infrastructure and housing. She sees the problem firsthand as the executive director of Edwards Street Fellowship Center, which operates ministries including a food pantry and a medical clinic.
“100% of the people we see are considered low income,” she said. “There are just a lot of struggles with that.”
Transportation also remains a major concern. McCullen pointed to Edwards Street as an example, where there are no sidewalks and drainage ditches line the road.
“You’re either way up in someone’s front yard or kind of in the ditch,” she said.
Housing is another urgent issue — with Forrest County recently reporting a homeless population of 128. Affordable options are scarce, McCullen said.
The Hattiesburg Housing Authority manages 296 public housing units, but the waitlist has been closed indefinitely due to high demand.
“There’s really not much in the way of emergency shelters,” McCullen said. “It’s also difficult for homeless individuals to find places they can afford.”
Support from city leadership
While the group continues to find ways to make an impact, city officials are praising CAT’s efforts. Councilman Nicholas Brown, who represents Ward 5, said the group has helped him maintain rights-of-way and improve basic infrastructure.
“I think it’s been a great impact,” Brown said. “Whenever you have people that come together and you have numbers, you can make demands, and you can address concerns as a whole.”
Mayor Toby Barker agreed and said these groups help identify needs and build neighborhood connections.
“They bring people together to talk with city administrations about gaps in services they have now — or things they want for their neighborhood,” Barker said. “I hope we continue to build on that and empower other wards to do the same.”
Jerald said CAT’s success comes from people willing to commit their time — and their hope is to keep growing.
“It’s so rewarding to see the change happening and to know that we do make a difference, bit by bit,” Jerald said.
Brown and Barker both support the idea of expanding resident-led efforts across Hattiesburg.
“The bigger your team, the stronger your team,” Brown said. “The more you can get accomplished, and more voices will be heard.”
To maintain momentum in Ward 5, Jerald said the group will begin monthly meetings with the mayor’s staff starting July 17. The goal is to ensure residents continue to have a voice in solving issues.
“I think the opportunities for feedback are almost more than we can contribute to — there are so many great options,” McCullen said. “They’re always asking for people to come give their insight — give their perspective by ward.”
