Browsing: Community Picks

In 2009, Anne Reed and Leigh Gentry-Hickman met during a women’s Bible study in Tupelo, Mississippi. Their friendship began quietly, but a spark of connection was formed. Years later, that spark grew into something extraordinary.

On a lot once home to a shuttered garment factory, Leakesville leaders see a chance to remake their town. The Basila District, a planned hub of businesses and green space, is the centerpiece of a push to keep young people in Greene County and attract new jobs. 

Gleaners, Inc., also known as The Volunteers of Gleaners, is a Jackson, Mississippi-based nonprofit organization founded by Gloria Martinson in 1986. Today, the Volunteers of Gleaners salvage food that otherwise would go to waste and redistribute it to nonprofits in the central Mississippi area. 

Every September, Jackson’s historic streets and stately trees come alive with one of my favorite celebrations of the year—the Mississippi Book Festival. Known affectionately as the “literary lawn party,” this gathering is more than an event; it’s a love letter to stories, storytellers, and the people who cherish them.

Downtown Wiggins is getting a new look, thanks to $50,000 in grants helping local businesses repair, repaint and revive storefronts. Leaders of the Stone County seat said upgrades are drawing more visitors and energy to the small city’s two-street business district. 

September is here, and with it comes a month full of exciting programs, creative workshops, and community connections at the Jackson-George Regional Library System (JGRLS). Whether you’re a book lover, crafter, parent, or teen—there’s something for everyone at your library!

Dog owners understand the blessings that come with having a fur friend. But for those living with disabilities, dogs offer a wide range of benefits, including assistance with daily tasks, retrieving objects, and providing physical support to maintain balance. Beyond physical aid, dogs also offer emotional and mental health benefits, helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness through companionship.

On Friday, August 22, 2025, a powerful reminder of community compassion will unfold as Operation Warm Heart donates 40 comfort kit boxes to the Biloxi Fire and Police Departments. Twenty kits will be presented to each department during a special ceremony that will bring together first responders, local officials, and community leaders.

Monica Robinson begins her day at 5:30 a.m., driving a school bus before starting her full-time job as a social worker for a Mississippi school district. 

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission is inviting families to a spooktacular day of fun at Stennis International Airport’s third annual Hallowings Flightfest. This free community event will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Danyell Latham watched as a crowd of Lambda Chi Alpha members celebrated the groundbreaking of her new home Thursday [Aug. 14].

Latham has worked for the university for nearly a decade and has served as a chef for the Lambda Chi fraternity house for about a year. By November, she and her sons, Robert and Kasen Kelly, will have the keys to a house built by volunteers from Mississippi State, Starkville Habitat for Humanity and the young men she sees every day at the university.

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Pride of Mississippi Marching Band and the Dixie Darlings will kick off the 2025 football season with Pride Preview, set for 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at Southern Station behind the Thad Cochran Center on the Hattiesburg campus. The concert is free and open to the public.

After 14 months and $4.2 million in renovations, the Pascagoula Public Library will unveil its upgraded facilities to the public on Aug. 18. 

For the eighth consecutive year, the Institute for Disability Studies (IDS) at The University of Southern Mississippi hosted its annual Summer Enrichment Academy––focused on providing youth and young adult students with disabilities a summer employment learning experience through its Transition of Teens to Adult Life (ToTAL) program. The academy was held at both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.

Get ready for a month full of learning, fun, and creativity at your local library! Whether you’re looking to join a craft class, attend a storytime, dive into a book club, or explore our newly renovated Pascagoula Public Library, there’s something for everyone this August.

Taylor Garretson, a senior at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), was crowned the 2025 Mississippi Miss Hospitality during the final night of competition held July 19 at the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater. The Greene County native emerged at the top of a highly competitive field of 47 contestants from across the state, following a rigorous week of interviews, speeches and stage presentations.