JANS – Malcolm White, Executive Director of Mississippi Arts Commission was recently appointed by Governor Phil Bryant as Chairman of the Mississippi Blues Commission. White will serve in the position for four years. The Blues Commission is a body of eighteen appointed Commissioners representing major organizations and geographic/political regions supporting Blues initiatives throughout the state. An initiative of the Blues Commission, the Mississippi Blues Trail is the state’s most popular heritage tourism initiative, attracting visitors from across the United States and Europe to Mississippi each year. Over 154 markers have been erected throughout the state, as well as 10 markers in nine states outside of Mississippi. The first international marker will be unveiled August 3, 2012 in Notodden, Norway, opening a new chapter in the Mississippi Blues Trail story. “I am delighted to serve as chairman of the Mississippi Blues Commission,” said Malcolm White. “I plan to focus my attention on the continuation of the Blues Trail development, to diversify income and to highlight the important work of the Benevolent Committee.” The Benevolent Committee was written into the original Blues Trail legislation in 2011, giving the Commission the right to give and receive monetary funds. With the help of this committee nine individuals have been given aid in times of need, including John Nolden, James “T Model” Ford and Duff Dorrough. The Mississippi Blues Trail was recently voted as “Best Heritage Trail” by AAA Southern Traveler Magazine in the “Best of the South” category. Southern Traveler is published bi-monthly and features stories on hotels, attractions, restaurants, and other interesting tips for travelers in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

JANS – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has joined with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to launch a training program for transitioning service members and veterans to help them become entrepreneurs and create jobs. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is a national initiative that will be piloted with the U.S. Marine Corps. The announcement was made by U.S. Small Business Administrator Karen Mills and U.S. Marine Corps representatives at Quantico, VA. “Our service men and women have made incalculable contributions and sacrifices for our country, and supporting them as they pursue their dreams to start or grow their own business is one of our highest priorities,” SBA Administrator Karen Mills said. “Through this partnership, we stand ready with support, entrepreneurial training, and resources that are critical tools to help them start businesses, drive economic growth and create jobs for themselves and their communities.” Entrepreneurship and small business ownership are valuable opportunities for transitioning service members and veterans. Each year, more than 250,000 service members transition out of the military. Transitioning veterans are natural entrepreneurs who possess the skills, experience and leadership to start businesses and create jobs. Veterans make up a large number of successful small business owners. Nine percent of small businesses are veteran-owned. These 2.45 million veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5 million individuals. In the private sector workforce, veterans are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed. Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup will help support veterans as they grow businesses and create jobs by building on SBA’s role as a leader in entrepreneurship training. SBA will help connect veterans with its resource partner network – Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), SCORE, and Veterans Business Opportunity Centers (VBOCs) – for support throughout the life-cycle of their new businesses. Through its ongoing collaboration with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), SBA also will provide comprehensive training materials specifically geared toward transitioning service members. SBA partners will coordinate training and services at military bases around the country, delivering a face-to-face introductory entrepreneurship course. In addition, an intensive eight-week online business planning training will be provided by Syracuse University and its affiliated university partners for those service members who choose to continue to pursue entrepreneurship after the face-to-face introductory course. Following, service members and veterans will be referred to SBDCs, WBCs, SCORE chapters and VBOCs for counseling and training throughout the lifetime of their business. The program will pilot in four locations: Quantico, Va., Cherry Point, N.C., Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. It will be expanded across the nation during fiscal year 2013 with the goal of providing entrepreneurial training and awareness to transitioning service members from all branches of the military. SBA currently engages veterans through its 68 local SBA district offices, 16 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide, and its partnership with 1,000 Small Business Development Centers and some 12,000 SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Businesses volunteers. Each year SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists. For more information on Boots to Business training program, and on how to take part as a transitioning service member, please visit http://www.sba.gov /bootstobusiness.

Robert J. Jefferson, Sr., president of Mississippi’s oldest black business founded in 1894.

JANS – More than 120 friends and family members of Robert Jefferson, Sr., president of W. H. Jefferson Funeral Home and Burial Association–Mississippi’s oldest black business—regaled the still active business executive and former nationally-known entertainment reporter on his 90th birthday Friday, July 6, at his home in Vicksburg. “I am really happy to see so many of my old friends and neighbors here today,” Jefferson said during a lull in the feasting and musical festivities of the fun-filled day.

“I still enjoy the company of everyone I’ve gotten to know over the years. I never forget a friend.” Sitting beside him was his wife, Athenia, who had taken the lead months before to make sure that her spouse’ 90th birthday celebration would be a success. Mrs. Jefferson is a retired executive and educator of the local Head Start center. “It seems that the hard work paid off,” she said. “I thank everybody for coming. And for those who were unable to come out, I want to thank them for the many cards and calls they sent us. It’s been a wonderful day.”

Jefferson, a World War II Veteran, was born on July 6, 1922, the day of the death of his uncle, family patriarch and business co-founder W. H. Jefferson. His aunt, famed philanthropist Lucy C. Jefferson, continued to guide the business until her death in 1953. The family business was founded in 1894 and survived a number of threats to its existence because of the Jefferson family’s leadership role during the early phase of the civil rights era. Since the demise of Lucy Jefferson, Robert Jefferson has been one of main presences in the vibrant sales and marketing activities that brought Jefferson Funeral Home to the forefront of the funeral industry for most of its 108-year history in Mississippi. His three older brothers and business team members–George, James, Sr., and William H., Sr.,–are now deceased.

Today, Robert Jefferson is co-owner of the family corporation with his nephew, James Jefferson, Jr., the company business manager and CEO. James Jefferson also serves as justice court judge for the central district of Warren County. Robert Jefferson gained a measure of national celebrity in the late 1940s and 1950s while serving as Vicksburg entertainment reporter for Jet and Ebony Magazines, The Baltimore Afro-American, the Pittsburgh Courier and other publications with a national circulation. Jefferson was the youngest of 11 children born to Jeffie and Eliza Jefferson. He is the sole survivor of the five brothers respected throughout Mississippi and much of the nation for their reputation as model funeral directors and exemplary business executives.

His father, Jeffie Jefferson, was the younger sibling of founder W. H. Jefferson. Jefferson fondly recalls his wartime experience with the 386th and the 333rd Field Artillery Battalions at the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne, Belgium in 1944 and 1945. He was horrified at the time on seeing more than half his comrades in the 386th Artillery lose their lives. The battle was one of the largest offensives Hitler’s forces launched against the Americans and their Allies, and it was the last great battle that led to a victorious outcome of the war for the USA. Jefferson retired from the Army Reserve in 1982 after 26 years of total service. He is the father of four daughters and one son, Robert, Jr. He and wife Athenia live in South Vicksburg.

JANS – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) announced on Wednesday, June 13, the appointment of LeMia Beatrice Jenkins as her Press Secretary. LeMia is based in the Congresswoman’s Washington, D.C. office and will, among other duties, coordinate media inquiries and outreach regarding legislative matters and national policy issues, as well as new media outreach. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, LeMia holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tougaloo College in Public Relations, and a Master of Public Health from the George Washington University. She has also studied healthcare delivery and promotion at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Prior to joining Congresswoman Marcia Fudge’s staff, LeMia worked with the staff of Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi on issues including homeland security, agriculture, health, veterans’ affairs and education. Following her experience with Congressman Thompson’s office, she worked with the American Dietetic Association and Weber Shandwick/Powell Tate, the world’s second largest Public Relations and Public Affairs firm. While with Weber Shandwick, LeMia worked on several accounts including the US Army, Army Reserve, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and CVS Caremark. She has also spent time in production for the Fox TV affiliate in Mississippi prior to relocating to Washington, DC. “LeMia has a clear understanding of media needs and a firm grasp of issues that affect the people of Northeast Ohio. Enthusiastic and hardworking, LeMia is a welcome addition to my staff,” said Congresswoman Fudge. Ms. Jenkins will collaborate with the Congresswoman’s Communications Director, Belinda Prinz, who continues her work in the Warrensville Heights office coordinating communication needs with media, community organizations and constituent outreach based in the district. Members of the media may contact LeMia at (202) 225-7032 or by email: LeMia.Jenkins@mail.house.gov

JANS – Montage Theatre of Dance, under the direction of Tiffany Jefferson in the Speech, Theatre and Dance Department of Hinds Community College, is a 30 member multi-disciplinary dance theatre company which infuses many genres of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, acrobatics and African to perform original, cutting-edge choreography. Montage will have a bon voyage celebration performance on Sunday, July 15, 2012, 6:00 PM at Bee Hall on the Hinds community College Campus in Raymond. Please come out and support the group as they perform their Sweden, Paris and London shows. This event is free and open to the public! Some of Montage’s most notable works are “7-A Tale of Sin and Virtue”, “The Story of my People”, “The Dance of Egypt – The Story of Moses”, “The Dance of Oz”, and “Nutcracker in the Neighborhood”. Montage Theatre of Dance is Mississippi’s only multi-disciplinary dance theater company and has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, New York, Somerset, England at Bridgewater College, The Shanghai Acrobats in Branson, MO, Tyler Jr. College in Texas, The Historic Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and will perform at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The dancers traveling and performing are Bridget Archer, Constance Lowe, Darriel Alexander, Ella McKnight, Helena Vah, Jasmine Calvert, Jasmine Friday, Leslie Pitts, Mason Penniman, Marisol Rosas, Shannon Price, Shanika Powe, Tiffany Jefferson and Tracy Pitts. Also Traveling and making a documentary is Videographer Andy Waterman and Head of the Speech Department at Hinds CC Mrs. Paula Rodriquez.

By Rebecca Lauck Cleary

Jackson Advocate Guest Writer

A group whose mission is to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between China and other countries, while safeguarding world peace, visited the University of Mississippi recently. A small delegation from the Chinese Association for International Understanding, or CAFIU, visited the campus June 8-10 to meet with representatives of several nonprofit organizations in north Mississippi. The delegation consisted of Du Kening, deputy secretary-general of CAIFU; Zheng Yao, director of European and American affairs for CAIFU; and Zhao Tianming, interpreter. The program featured an exchange of presentations by CAFIU and the north Mississippi nonprofits, followed by informative talks on how nonprofits work and the role they play in society. The presenters included Tom Pittman, Executive Director of Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi; Jennifer Coleman, Oxford Chapter of the American Red Cross; John Garrott, Executive Director of the 4M Foundation, headquartered in Senatobia; and Mabel Murphree, District Director for U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee’s office in Columbus and formerly of the CREATE Foundation. Garrott and UM professor emeritus Robert Haws were hosted in 2005 by CAFIU, which contacted the university earlier this year to propose a return visit. Founded in September 1981, CAFIU is sponsored by and composed of political parties, social organizations, prominent people, scholars and social activists from all walks of life in China. CAFIU has been carrying out active and wide-ranging international nongovernmental exchanges and dialogues in the hope to “Let the world understand China, and let China understand the world.” Since its founding, CAFIU has formed ties and had exchanges with social organizations, political parties, research institutes in scores of countries and international organizations and has established extensive contacts with people from various circles in those countries.