Midtown Partners Inc

TO BUILD A VIBRANT, HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE FAMILIES.

INITIATIVE 1: EDUCATIONLITTLE SAMARITAN MONTESSORI CENTER (ESTABLISHED IN 2003): THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER PROVIDES AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN 0-5 BASED UPON THE MONTESSORI PRINCIPLES FOUNDED BY MARIA MONTESSORI. THE CENTER CONSISTS OF SIX CLASSROOMS, WHICH INCLUDES TWO BABY ROOMS, TWO ONE-YEAR OLD ROOMS, ONE 2-YEAR-OLD ROOM AND A 3-5 YEAR OLD ROOM FOR A COMBINED FULL DAY ENROLLMENT OF 60. WHILE ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITIES ARE OPEN FOR ALL FAMILIES, PREFERENCE IS GIVEN FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE MIDTOWN COMMUNITY WITH SCHOLARSHIPS BEING AVAILABLE FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING AN ECONOMIC BARRIER. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMISSION OF MID-JACKSON (ESTABLISHED IN 2011): THE COMMISSION WAS ESTABLISHED TO SERVE AS THE HOST FOR ALL INITIATIVES SUPPORTED BY MIDTOWN PARTNERS AND RELATED TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. THE MISSION OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMISSION IS TO HELP ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD WHO ENTERS KINDERGARTEN IS PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ACADEMICALLY READY TO LEARN. PROGRAMS INCLUDED:-EXCEL BY 5 CERTIFICATION-PARENTING 411-EARLY LINKS TO INNOVATION-EARLY CARE CULTIVATION-FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERMAVS CONNECT (AN EXPLORATORY LEARNING AFTER SCHOOL EXPERIENCE RE-ESTABLISHED IN 2009): PROJECT INNOVATION IS A CHILD-CENTERED AND COMMUNITY-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCE BASED ON INTELLECTUAL EXPLORATION. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS ENRICHMENT EXPERIENCES FOR APPROXIMATELY 75 5TH TO 8TH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WHO ATTEND MIDTOWN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM IS FOUNDED UPON THE COMPONENTS INVOLVING STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH) AND INCLUDES ACTIVITIES RELATING TO AVIATION, COMMUNITY GARDENING, ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT.MIDTOWN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL (ESTABLISHED IN 2014): MIDTOWN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IS A MIDDLE SCHOOL CHARTER SCHOOL ESTABLISHED IN MIDTOWN JACKSON DESIGNED TO SERVE STUDENTS IN 4TH THROUGH 8TH GRADES. MIDTOWN PUBLIC IS BUILT ON THE PREMISE THAT EXCELLENT TEACHING, GROUNDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER, SELF-EFFICACY, AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, CAN FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. FOR THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR, MIDTOWN PUBLIC HAD A TOTAL ENROLLMENT OF 285 STUDENTS IN 4TH THROUGH 8TH GRADES.MID-JACKSON FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (RE-ESTABLISHED IN 2023): LOCATED AT 301 ADELLE STREET AND OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICES, THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS LOCATED WITHIN HINDS COUNTY. ASSISTANCE INCLUDES RESOURCES RELATED TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH A WIDE RANGE OF MATERIALS THAT CHILDCARE WORKERS CAN USE TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THEIR CENTERS. MATERIALS INCLUDE COPYING SERVICES, DYE CUTS, LAMINATING MACHINE, AN OVERHEAD PROJECTOR FOR PROJECT LAYOUTS AND DEVELOPED THEMATIC UNITS.

INITIATIVE 2: NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTMIDTOWN COMMUNITY KITCHEN (ESTABLISHED IN 2000): THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROVIDES FREE, NUTRITIOUS MEALS FOR A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS IN THE MIDTOWN AREA. DURING THE 2022/2023 PERIOD, THE KITCHEN PROVIDED OVER 80,000 MEALS. PREPARED BREAKFAST/LUNCH MEALS ARE DELIVERED TO:-HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND DISABLED LIVING IN THE MIDTOWN COMMUNITY (MEALS WITH WHEELS - CURRENTLY 15 ON ROUTE).-LITTLE SAMARITAN MONTESSORI CENTER-MIDTOWN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLSENIOR CASE MANAGEMENT (RE-ESTABLISHED IN 2008): CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR HOMEBOUND SENIORS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH DELIVERY OF A NOON MEAL AND CONTINUES WITH ROUTINE HOME VISITS FROM COMMUNITY OUTREACH STAFF. THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH DETERMINES ELIGIBILITY BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT. REFERRALS ARE MADE TO PARTNERING NON-PROFITS TO SECURE ASSISTANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WITH REGARDS TO FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICINE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. DURING 2022/2023, APPROXIMATELY 17 SENIORS/DISABLED WERE SERVED.

INITIATIVE 3: HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTNEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING: IN 2022/2023, MIDTOWN PARTNERS CONTINUED TO WORK ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MIDTOWN MASTER PLAN DEVELOPED IN 2010 AND UPDATING PROGRESS MAPS. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: MIDTOWN PARTNERS WORKS TO PROVIDE AND PROMOTE QUALITY AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS AND HOMES FOR SALE IN THE MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD. DURING 2022/2023, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO 6 HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN THE MIDTOWN COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION WORKED WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PARTNER TO SECURE A LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT AWARD FROM MISSISSIPPI HOME CORP. THAT WILL BRING 34 ADDITIONAL UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MIDTOWN. CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO START IN THE FALL OF 2023. THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WILL REPLACE THE BLIGHTED PROPERTIES THAT WERE DEMOLISHED IN 2021/2022.CREATIVE ECONOMY STRATEGY (ESTABLISHED IN 2013): MIDTOWN'S CREATIVE ECONOMY STRATEGY IS BUILT ON THE RESEARCH COMPLETED IN 2011 BY MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC COUNCIL, MISSISSIPPI DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND MISSISSIPPI ARTS COMMISSION: BLUEPRINT MISSISSIPPI AND MISSISSIPPI'S CREATIVE ECONOMY. MIDTOWN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ELSEWORKS DEPARTMENT OF MILLSAPS COLLEGE WAS SELECTED, AS THE FIRST OF THREE PILOT SITES TO TEST THE GROWTH OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY WHEN NURTURING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE AND STUDIO SITES SUPPORTING THE SYNERGY OF THE EXISTING ARTS DISTRICT. DURING 2021/2022, MIDTOWN PARTNERS SOLD ONE OF THE INCUBATORS (THE HANGER) TO A CURRENT TENANT TO FURTHER SUPPORT HIS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EFFORTS IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE FOLLOWING ADVANCEMENTS:-SERVED SIX TENANTS AT "THE HATCH" (100% OF FINISHED SPACE OCCUPIED)-SERVED ONE TENANT AT "WIGHTMAN" (50% OF WAREHOUSE SPACE OCCUPIED).