The work of R&R is moving forward at a pace even we didn’t expect. When we officially began this journey in February of this year, we knew we were doing what the Lord was leading us to, but we didn’t know he was ready to run full speed ahead. We have risen to the challenge and are running right along with him. Many of you have met with us over the last months and we have left those meetings feeling encouraged and even more sure that the work of R&R is needed and the time for it is now.
These are the highlights of what R&R has been able to accomplish since February:
- Awarded as a subgrantee for the Using Data for Local Action from the Center for Community Progress
- Became an official 501c3
- Received our first donation from Northside Baptist Church
- Received an in-kind donation of office space from Word of Life Church
- Applied for Delta Regional Authority Planning Grant
- Applied for grant through the Community Foundation of MS to conduct an in-depth study of the unhoused in our target area
- Partnering with the Center for Community Progress on a grant application to conduct Data collection for the rest of the City of Jackson
- Submitted a LOI to Kellog Foundation
Current Project
On Monday, Oct. 20, we began the data collection piece of our collaboration with the Center for Community Progress on the Using Local Data for Action Grant. Through this grant we are conducting a comprehensive windshield survey of all 9,500 parcels within our target area. Local volunteers completed a two-night training and are now systematically driving each street, photographing every parcel, and recording assessments regarding its condition. Upon completion of the survey, each parcel will be assigned a grade and accurately documented as a church, residence, commercial property, vacant lot, or other classification. The resulting data will guide R&R in its efforts to educate our community and advocate for initiatives that foster positive change in West Jackson…