Dallas Weddle was selected as the January 2022 Hub City Hero.
Dallas, a 15-year-old freshman at South Side High School, is a former patient of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who has made it a mission to give back by hosting fundraisers.
“It feels amazing and exciting and an honor to receive this award,” said Weddle. “[St. Jude] helped me in so many ways as they continue to search for a cure to cancer.”
Dallas, in 2019, held a bake sale in which over $3,700 was raised and donated to St. Jude. He also held a mask sale during the COVID-19 pandemic in which proceeds were donated to St. Jude.
“Dallas is one of the most positive people I know and an inspiration to all,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “It just goes to show that no matter what your age is, you can make an impact and be a hero.”
Weddle’s advice to others including those his age is that you can always do it if you put your mind to it; to work hard and be positive.
“Hub City Heroes” selflessly and steadily give of their time and talent to improve the lives of others in the community. Recognition as a hero is one small way to thank these public servants for their efforts and it gives honorees the opportunity to raise awareness for causes that are important to them.
Local artist Callie Wright was selected as the February 2022 Hub City Hero.
Wright, a student at Union University majoring in Social Work, is a native of Louisville, KY. Wright combines her social work with her passion for art and paints portraits of those who she says are “people not seen in the community.” Wright started her art project in the summer of 2021 after connecting with the organization “Faces of Mankind” based in California.
“I have a heart for people and I think people have dignity and value, and I want others to see it as well,” said Wright. “And as an artist, this is my way to say that.”
Wright says that she works closely with Area Relief Ministries and would get photos of the men there and paint them. She would share the art work with them. Wright is hoping to plan an art show soon in order to showcase her work.
Wright wants to give back by donating proceeds of her artwork to benefit ARM.
“We may not often think of an artist as being a hero, but a hero sees the good in humanity,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Callie sees that good and transfers it to canvas through her paintings.”
You can support Callie by viewing some of her work on her Instagram page @facesofjacksontn.
“Hub City Heroes” selflessly and steadily give of their time and talent to improve the lives of others in the community. Recognition as a hero is one small way to thank these public servants for their efforts and it gives honorees the opportunity to raise awareness for causes that are important to them.
Grayson Hart, founder of Lights Up Theatre Co. community theatre, has been selected as the March 2022 Hub City Hero.
Hart, a Jackson Native and graduating senior at Jackson Christian School, founded the theatre company in 2021. The theater has between 50-70 participants from elementary to high school from public, private, and home schools.
Hart, who grew up doing theatre, wanted an outlet to collaborate with different people. He says that he wanted a lot of student leadership to not only be in the shows but running the shows to make them happen.
“Dream the biggest dream possible. Go for it,” said Hart. “If you put the time in and have the drive, everything will fall into place as it should.”
Hart says that seeing each child very nervous when they come in and seeing their confidence grow by the end is what motivates him to keep going.
“Heroes often use their personal passion as a driving force to make their community a better place,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Grayson’s theater company opens the door for many who wish to enter that field.”
You can support Grayson by visiting their website at https://www.lightsuptheatreco.com/ or by following them on social media @lightsuptheatreco.
Jamaal Brady, founder of the nonprofit The Better Balance Foundation, has been selected as the April 2022 Hub City Hero.
Brady is a native or Jackson, TN and the owner of Better Balance Sports & Fitness. His mission is to see athletics restored and taken seriously in the West Tennessee area. Jamaal has trained serval high school turned collegiate athletes along with pro athletes as well. His primary focus and passion is on youth development K-8.
“Get started. You have to put your feet to the ground,” Brady said. “Find people who have similar thoughts and ideas and create. Create. Create.”
Brady started his mission after seeing athletes get to the high school level and not have the support system needed to continue their careers. He noticed a pattern of athletes with high potential succumbing to the influence of criminal activities and has taken the initiative by stepping up to challenge that dynamic.
“As a former athlete, I understand the importance of training and the overall positive effects sports has on our youth,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “What Jamaal has done for the youth in our community through the outlets of sports and fitness is what heroes do.”
You can learn more about Jamaal and Better Balance Sports & Fitness by visiting their Instagram Page: @better_balance_sports_Fitness
Children’s book author Patricia Winston has been selected as the May 2022 Hub City Hero.
Winston, a minister, has been a resident of Jackson, TN for over 40 years. Winston worked with her husband for over thirty years at the Eastside Medical Clinic.
Winston has been a volunteer for over 20 years with the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson where she teaches Bible study, participates in summer programs and hosts a back-to-school party for the students. Winston is also currently volunteering with the Salvation Army where she teaches Sunday school classes and tutors.
“Children learn differently. If our society will ever figure that out: all children do not learn the same,” said Winston. “And if we can just meet their needs and meet them where they are, we can propel them to be successful. Whatever success is for them.”
Winston’s nominator said that she is committed to making positive impact in the lives of children.
“Mrs. Winston has volunteered over 20 years of her life to the children of our community which exemplifies what heroes do,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Mrs. Winston is an asset to the future of our city by her commitment to our youth.”
Founder of the West Tennessee Youth Basketball Association/Tennessee Blazers Joshua Weeden has been selected as the June 2022 Hub City Hero.
Weeden is a native of Jackson, TN where he attended Madison Academic Magnet High School. Weeden went on to attend Tennessee State University. Weeden also received his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration and History.
Weeden’s nominator said that he is dedicated to the cause of helping the youth and puts more energy and time in his community.
Community is very important to me because when I was younger here in Jackson we had people who were examples for us,” said Weeden. “And how we needed to uplift and give back to the very community that we came from; not just those communities but the surrounding ones as well.”
The WTYBA/Tennessee Blazers is a non-profit organization, comprised of youth from all over the state of Tennessee.
Weeden says that the organization gives youth the platform to be seen by college coaches in hopes of obtaining college scholarships as well as helping the development in younger athletes with their basketball skills.
“Heroes never forget where they come from and Joshua is a prime example of that,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Joshua reaches youth from all over west Tennessee but continues to stay true to his roots here in Jackson.”
Program Director of Our Jackson Home and creator of the “Love Your Neighborhood” mural Courtney Searcy has been selected as the July 2022 Hub City Hero.
Searcy, a 2014 Union University graduate, is the editor-in-chief for Our Jackson Home. Searcy became editor in 2020 where previously served as writer, photographer and volunteer.
Searcy said that one of the most important things is “be connected” and have conversations that can get you to the right person.
“One of the great things about the size of our city is that it can be relatively easy,” said Searcy. “It can feel hard sometimes to know who the right people are, to get something done, if you have an idea that you're excited about.”
Searcy also believes that patience is important as well.
“You might have like three degrees of separation from anyone you need,” said Searcy. “It can take time. So sometimes we have an idea and we want it to be done right away, but persistence is also key.”
Searcy said that The Neighbor’s Club is a way to financially show support for OJH and that they are also looking for volunteers who are writers, photographers or just those with ideas.
“Heroes invest not only in the community but in the people who make up that community,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Courtney shows that investment as well as her love for this city through Our Jackson Home and the projects and events that are put on for our citizens -- including 731 Day and Porch Fest.”
Warehouse Manager for Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA) Thomas Brown has been selected as the August 2022 Hub City Hero.
Brown, a native of Humboldt, TN, has called Jackson home for a number of years. Brown is married to his wife Jaime and they have two boys who are also involved in the community.
Brown’s nominator said that he “always has a smiling face and wants to serve people,” and that he is a “caring man who wants to see the community thrive.” Brown said that he often wants to make people happy.
“If you don’t have a good community, then obviously you’re not going to be happy yourself,” said Brown. “And it’s kind of hard to help someone else if you’re not happy.”
Brown has been an employee with RIFA for five years where he serves as the warehouse manager. Brown said that he really enjoys doing what he can for the neighborhood.
“I know a lot of times the hardest thing is to kind of release is your time,” said Brown. “That’s something you really can’t get back.”
Brown said that there are many ways a person can volunteer. That it could be through donations including monetary or physical, but the best way to start is to simply ask.
“There are a lot of places in Jackson that are trying to do something to help people,” said Brown. “And everything that you can imagine is probably needed by somebody.”
“Heroes live by the Golden Rule – treating others as they want to be treated – and Thomas embodies that rule,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “He has a servant’s heart for his community and it shows through his work and by the effort he gives to make others feel the same joy he has.”
David Vince, Potentate for Al Chymia, has been selected as the September 2022 Hub City Hero.
For the past 28 years, Vince has called the City of Jackson, TN home. He is a past member of the Jackson Lodge Number 45 Masonic Lodge and is currently “Hartley the Clown” with the Shriners of West Tennessee.
Vince’s nominator said that they have “watched [him] ensure so many children in Jackson-Madison County have a great Christmas” and that he “goes out of his way to raise money sot that he can help as many as he can.” Vince says that his community is very important to him due to his upbringing with his 6 siblings.
“I came up and I really didn’t have a lot and as I was looking back, I found the things that I did have and a lot of times it was people in the community who stepped up and provided those things,” said Vince. “At about [age] 35, I looked back and [thought], ‘how did that happen?”
Vince decided that he and his fraternity brothers would put together a Masonic Christmas for the children in the community every year since they started. Vince said that it was what his community did for him that lead him to do what he does for others.
Vince’s words of wisdom to others would be to make and action and follow through.
“You can want to do things; you can like things on Facebook but that’s not going to get things done. It’s the actual action if you want the city to be better; the community to be better,” said Vince. “Talking about it, demonstrating about it – doing all that stuff really doesn’t help unless you take action and actually make it happen in your community.”
“There are talkers and there are doers and David has proven himself a doer by his commitment to those he serves,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “The smiles and joy he brings to the children in Jackson and Madison County makes him a Hub City Hero.”
Elvia Trejo, radio personality at La Poderosa 105.3 FM WTJK, has been selected as the October 2022 Hub City Hero.
Elvia has called Jackson home for the past seven years. She is currently a radio host on the new local Spanish radio station WTJK 105.3 FM, La Poderosa.
Trejo’s nominator said that she “loves helping and supporting teachers” in Jackson-Madison County as well as “trying to inspire Latino artists to get involved with their art with the Art District downtown.”
“I want opportunities that I was able to have here in Jackson for everyone of all backgrounds; all cultures to have,” said Trejo. “I started off at The Local and even before then, I feel that I was able to use so many different resources here in Jackson to become part of this wonderful community.”
Trejo, who was raised in South Louisiana, is currently engaged to her fiancée Nicholas and is the proud mother of three. She is also the owner of ElleTre.
Trejo is involved heavily with educators. Her children are part of the Jackson-Madison County School System and she is currently a part of the PTA at the school where her goal is to help them assist with fundraisers and other resources to make their lives easier.
“Right now, we’re doing a popcorn fundraiser so that we can get Christmas presents to our amazing teachers,” said Trejo. “I hope to continue to do that work through the years.
“Elvia’s drive to support her local community – whether it’s small businesses or our local educators and students – is a testament to what it means to be a hero,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Her ‘don’t wait, start now’ mentality should be an inspiration to all who are looking to help make their community better.”
Current Keep Jackson Beautiful Interim Chair Jill Taylor and Jackson Recreation and Parks Board Chair Alyson Fite were both selected as joint November 2022 Hub City Heroes.
Taylor and Fite have known each other for about three years and have recently become close friends who came together over the things they thought they could do to help the city.
“We talk a lot just about a lot going on in Jackson,” said Taylor. “We’re super excited every time we come together because we’ve always learned something new.”
“We’ve had a lot of encouragement from everybody around us,” Fite added. “And it’s been pretty successful so far.”
Taylor and Fite’s nominator said that they, “give their time to make the City of Jackson a beautiful place to live,” and that they are “working diligently to strive for their mission which is ‘to provide volunteer leadership in developing positive attitudes about the environment by education and community involvement.’”
Taylor said that for a long time she was a complainer, but was fed up with listening to herself and decided to want to understand why things worked the way they work and wanted to get more involved.
“My pet peeve is litter and trash and garbage,” said Taylor. “And during COVID I noticed that there was an extensive amount of mattresses at the end of people’s driveways so I was like, ‘I’m going to make a difference.”
That is when Taylor reached out to the City of Jackson, TN’s Health and Sanitation Department and learned how she could help.
While Taylor’s passion was picking up trash and litter, Fite’s passion could be seen by her love for the parks in the City of Jackson, which she calls the “heartbeat of the city.”
“Some things have gotten left in the dark and that includes our parks,” said Fite. “But I think the city is ready to have great parks and to take care of them. They’re the heartbeat of the city.”
Taylor and Fite both agree that the easiest way to get more involved is through the Keep Jackson Beautiful board. They both hope that within the next year more opportunities for volunteering will be available.
“Jill and Alyson each had their own respective aha moments of getting involved with the city, through our Recreation and Parks, and Keep Jackson Beautiful boards,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “This Dynamic Duo are helping make our city a beautiful place to live.”
Local volunteer Martha Priddy has been selected as the City of Jackson’s December 2022 Hub City Hero.
Priddy has lived in Jackson for just over a decade and just over the past two years found a need to help with filling a gap between organizations and immediate needs for those in our community.
“We have a lot of wonderful organizations here in Jackson to help people, but there’s no emergency to put the boots on the ground when someone calls [in need of assistance],” said Priddy. “I realized there was a gap and I answered that gap and got my group together and they’ve grown to over two thousand.”
Priddy said that she “didn’t do anything special” when she started the Facebook group which is named, “Jackson Madison County Humanitarian Relief Volunteers.” She said that she just “started posting what the needs were” and more and more people came onboard to help.
Priddy says that the best way to help is by watching the Facebook page she manages.
“Any way that you can help to donate, nothing is too small,” said Priddy. “It doesn’t always take money. It just takes caring.”
“Heroes are humble and trusted by those they serve and often times they don’t want the spotlight,” said Mayor Scott Conger. “Martha’s willingness to assist in meeting the needs of others by ‘filling the gap’ is the true mark of a hero.”