JANS – The Center for Social Entrepreneurship (CSE) hosted a Demo Day Celebration on October 22, 2025, at 121 Rose Street, Jackson, MS 39203, marking the removal of a long-blighted structure and the start of a bold redevelopment project — the future William and Lillian Cooley Youth Entrepreneurship and Tech Center.
For decades, the once-proud building at 121 Rose Street stood as a landmark of neighborhood pride in West Jackson. But after years of abandonment, erosion, and multiple fires, the structure became unsafe and unsalvageable. Rather than allow the site to remain a source of blight, CSE acquired the property and is leading a transformative redevelopment that will restore life, opportunity, and purpose to the area.
“The demolition is not an end, but a beginning,” said Dr. Kimberly Hilliard, President and CEO of CSE. “This project is a pragmatic response to longstanding blight and disinvestment. The new Youth Entrepreneurship and Tech Center will be a place where young people can gain workforce skills, explore technology, and discover pathways to entrepreneurship – right here in their own community.”…