All, we are putting together a special tribute issue to Chokwe Lumumba for next week. Please add your messages below, and we will include what we can and link back to the rest. I'll start with a letter the Greater Jackson Chamber leadership sent to members today:
February 26, 2014
Dear GJCP Members:
The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership is deeply saddened by Mayor Chokwe Lumumba’s departure from this earthly life. He was a great leader, with unique personality and talent. His keen intellectual grasp of the tough issues facing the City of Jackson was important, but it was his ability to rally everyone to action on those issues that truly made him special. His time in office may have been cut short, but his impact on moving this city forward will have long standing implications.
Today we grieve with the rest of the community, but we also cerebrate the achievements of Chokwe Lumumba. We had a strong and productive working relationship with the Mayor. Furthermore, in an unexpected twist, we developed a sincere personal relationship. So today we grieve the loss of this dear friend, and realize how blessed we are to have had him as a leader and public servant. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mayor Lumumba’s family, his friends and this community.
Sincerely,
Andy Taggart Chairman of the Board Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
Duane O'Neill President Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
Comments
tstauffer 10 years, 1 month ago
This came in from JPS, posted verbatim:
*The Jackson Public School (JPS) family is deeply saddened by the passing of City of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. His leadership, passion for quality education, and commitment towards the success of our students will be truly missed.
Mayor Lumumba helped us kick off the 2013-2014 school year with words of encouragement to over 4000 JPS employees at our annual Convocation ceremony held at the Mississippi Coliseum. He most recently played an integral role in the JPS accreditation process. Last school year, he implemented a City-wide cleanup day where both City of Jackson employees and JPS students (JROTC) and staff participated.
Mayor Lumumba was very influential in working with the City's legal team and myself to settle a lawsuit between the City of Jackson and Jackson Public Schools over taxes and millage rates. Mayor Lumumba was also a strong supporter and advocate of JPS' strategic goals, Alignment Jackson, our Partners in Education Program, Blackburn Middle School's Evers Academy for African-American Males (A-TEAAM), JPS athletics, and offered his assistance in settling a bus driver strike. Additionally, Mayor Lumumba was very involved with the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color.
In honor of Mayor Lumumba, JPS flags are being flown at half-mast today, February, 26, 2014, through the rest of the week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mayor Lumumba's family during this time as we reflect on the progress he sought for the City of Jackson during his brief tenure.
Cedrick Gray, Ed.D Superintendent*