the Jackson Association of Neighborhoods collaborated with the City of Jackson’s Department of Planning and Development to host the inaugural Community Impact Gala at the Jackson Medical Mall. It was an evening that did more than present awards. It told the story of a city powered by its people.

A Jackson native, Wilson’s connection to the city is woven through family, faith and a lifelong commitment to community. Raised in an environment where service was not optional but expected, she grew up watching her Jackson native parents step in to help neighbors in need. That example became a blueprint.

Born and raised in Westside Subdivision No. 2 in Ward 4, Princess Barber-Williams has spent her entire life in the community she now helps lead. Her roots run deep in Jackson, beginning with her early education in Catholic school before transferring to Jackson Public Schools in eighth grade. She graduated from Forest Hill High School and later attended Mississippi College in Clinton.

Ray McCants III came to Mississippi from Detroit with a scholarship and curiosity about business. What he found instead was a city full of possibilities. Through marketing, mentorship, and a belief in Jackson’s creative potential, he’s helping write its next chapter.

Jackson grows stronger when we see the success of every community as connected to our own. Civic engagement isn’t limited to where we live—it’s about how we show up for the entire city. Whether through mentorship, volunteering, donating supplies, or simply sharing information, each of us has something to offer. When neighborhoods invest in one another, we create safer streets, healthier public spaces, and stronger relationships across Jackson. Progress becomes possible when we step beyond familiar boundaries and work together for the good of all.