Southside Festival Series 2023 (May 2023)

SOUTHSIDE FESTIVAL SERIES

Corporate sponsor

McKibbin Media Group

Welcome To The

#SOUTHSIDEFESTIVALSERIES 2023

A community is a thriving social culture. It is a place where families raise their children and hope to explore a rich and culturally vibrant community that affords safety, inspiration and enjoyment. The Southside community of Jackson is no exception. The African American community has thrived on the Southside the last 70 years, having began relocating from the Eastside in the 60’s to create a Southeast Jackson community that has shared a mutual desire to grow and build a brighter future for generations to come.

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History OF THE SOUTHSIDE FESTIVAL SERIES

In 2019 Southside Festival Series began with the reveal of the #Southside mural designed by Yhosef Ware and painted by himself and a team on Dr. MLK Jr Drive at the MLK Equality Trail. Since then this annual festival event for small businesses and local organizations continues each year at the corner of High and Milwaukee streets along the MLK Equality Trail within the Elnora Moorman Plaza. Each year this Festival has grown and now consists of 6 festivals beginning in April and ending in December. Southside Festival Series is now the largest annual multi-festival series in Jackson, drawing in nearly ten thousand attendees annually.

Local Authors Expo:

A Tradition of Writing and Publishing Locally April

22nd @ MLK Center

The 4th Annual Local Authors Expo & Book Fair kicked off this past April with over two dozen writers, publishers and authors showcasing their books and networking with other writers. This Expo began in 2017 at the downtown Weatherwax Hall and in 2022 became a part of the #SouthsideFestivalSeries.

Black Arts Fest:

Celebrating the Art & Creative Expression of BIPOC

May 27th 11am-6pm @Elnora Moorman Plaza

In 2020 locally known master artist Yhosef Ware painted a Black Lives Matter road mural on High Street at Elnora Moorman Plaza, shifting the previous years Summer Fest to the current location at Elnora Moorman Plaza, where black art and other cultural inspired artists showcase their master pieces and creative expressions along the High street sidewalk row of vendors.

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Southside Freedom Fest:

Focusing on Food Sovereignty in a Community of Poverty

On June 19th, 1865 over 2,000 Union troops arrived at Galveston Texas to announce the end of Slavery. A celebration began and it has since been called Juneteenth. During our annual Freedom Festival we focus on the most important issues facing the black community in Jackson Michigan. This year we focus on the fact that the Southside is a current food dessert with no nearby grocery store. In partnership with YPOP and Residents in Action, this year’s Freedom Fest will showcase workshops on the State of black farming and the urgency to make fresh foods accessible to the Southside community.

OFFICIAL sponsor

Heal the Hood Art of Peace Festival

July 8th 11am-6pm @Elnora Moorman Plaza

Corporate sponsor

Violence continues to plague our community and the Southside has been hard hit over the last 40 years. Heal The Hood is an annual tradition around the country, particularly in Milwaukee lead by Ajamu Butler, who continues to inspire us in our fight to end violence in Jackson. This year’s Heal the Hood partners with The Art of Peace and Street Allure Music to bring a Summer festival concert promoting Peace and Healing.

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Emerging Entrepreneurs Business Expo:

Black Businesses on the Rise in Jackson

August 12th 11am-6pm @Elnora Moorman Plaza

In 2022 we held the first Emerging Entrepreneurs Business Expo hosted by Toneka Smith of T. Smith Business Consulting consisting of a public workshop Conference featuring business owners, business tax preparers and business consultants, sharing tips and strategies for new business owners. This year T. Smith Business Consulting returns to host another Entrepreneurs Expo under the Stanley Street Tent between 1pm-3pm.

MEET THE SOUTHSIDE PLANNING TEAM

Since 2019 the Southside Summer Fest began with excitement for what it could mean for the future. It began in partnership with Jackson Citizens Advisory Council when launching the Southside Mural which gave birth to Southside Summer Fest. Now known as the #SouthsideFestivalSeries, the planning team has diligently and consistently carried on this annual tradition. Meet the team!

Salena Taylor

Founder of Partial 2 Girls

Salena has been a part of the planning team since 2019 and brings the experience of a community resource organizer and hosts Southside Festival Series with the passion of a community leader dedicated to serving her neighbors.

Yhosef Ware

Artist

Yhosef is a retired US Air Force and a life long professional artist and when called in 2018 to lead a design team of artists to paint a mural commemorating the Southside, Yhosef answered the call and lead the team that produced the Southside mural revealed in 2019 at the first annual Summer Fest. Yhosef officially joined the planing team in 2020.

Myeshia Jones

Host of Monday’s With My

Myeshia is a well known community leader and voice of young people, using her story and experience to inspire the next generation. Myeshia joined the planning team in 2021 and leads the community engagement and public relations of Southside Festival Series

Toneka Smith

Owner, T. Smith Consulting

Toneka is a Business consultant helping new and emerging businesses get started while mentoring them along the way. Topeka joined the planning team in 2022 and leads the Funding Development and Strategic Planning of SouthsideFestivalSeries

Hakim Crampton

Founder of AMEN 4 Youth

Inspired by Debra Green, founder of H.A.P.E. who launched the Southside Fall Festival in 2008, Hakim modeled the SouthsideFestivalSeries after this Fall Festival and the vision of Debra Green to see a thriving southside community where both community, businesses and organizations all comes together. With these visions together blended with the Southside mural, Hakim continues to lead this team envisioning a thriving community centered in the heart of the Southside at Elnora Moorman Plaza along the MLK Equality Trail.

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southside summerfest series