For the last seven and a half years, our administration has been working hard to build what we’ve been calling a “dignity economy.”  We are proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together.  
 
The dictionary definition of dignity is “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.”  We believe every single one of us is worthy of respect and that our economy should reflect that.  
 
So, when we talk about Jackson becoming better and stronger, we mean good jobs.  We mean making sure our JPS scholars are prepared to lead.  We mean safe, affordable housing and affordable access to quality internet.  We mean rebuilding and repairing our streets, sewers, and water system so that we have the infrastructure we deserve.  

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We’ve worked tirelessly towards these aims every day and we’ve seen some promising gains to bring Jackson closer to the more livable, more accessible city we envision.  
 
My commitment is still to ONE city, ONE aim, ONE destiny.  All neighborhoods matter and we will not rest until each and every neighborhood has what they need to thrive. 
 
We have more than our share of challenges – large and small – but I believe we are up to continuing the work to resolve them as there’s also much promise ahead.  Thanks to dedicated residents and a dynamic team, we are a city on the move, and we are making great progress.  We are doing this together.  We have an incredible story to tell and a promising future ahead.
 
Proverbs 29:18 reads, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  It’s a passage I keep close to my heart.  We can never lose sight of our vision of a city where all of us can thrive, we are all of us can live a life of dignity. 
 
There is so much good here because of the time, energy, and faith of caring, committed people like you. 
 

I am grateful to have a supportive family to share this public life with me.  My wife, Dr. Ebony Lumumba and our two daughters, Alaké and Nubia, remind me every day why this work we do is so important.  

 

No one does a job like this alone and I am deeply appreciative of the ways so many of you have shown your support. 

 

In the words of Mother Harriet Tubman, “Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”