Mississippi Native: Amanda Wells

"There’s something about being invested in place—it invests in you right back."

What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Growing up, Amanda Wells had dreams of moving up and out of Mississippi. But “life had other plans,” and Amanda stayed put, deepening her network of connections with family and friends. As the founder of The Tell Agency, a marketing agency based in Jackson, community is a central theme of her life and work. “[I]t’s no secret that people love to hate on Jackson,” Amanda writes. “I’m not naïve or turning a blind eye to our abundant room for improvement, but the community here is absolutely unmatched.” Today, Amanda shares a few of the challenges and the many deep rewards she has experienced by staying rooted in Mississippi.

Amanda Wells lives in Jackson.

Where are you from?

I was born in Jackson and my parents moved us to Star when I was an infant. They recently sold my childhood home after nearly forty years, but I still call little Star, Mississippi, home. I’m very proud to be from there. 

How long have you lived in Mississippi?

I’ve lived in Mississippi my entire life. Forty years to be exact. 

What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition? 

I always tell my kids that when it comes to relationships, they should feel full, not depleted when they are around their friends and family. I truly believe home is just like that. Home is where you feel sustained, where you can make a difference, and where you know you matter. Being home may not always be “easy,” but it should definitely be meaningful. For me, it’s the place where I can breathe the deepest.

Amanda and her family in Jackson.

How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here? 

I honestly believe I could never find community this rich anywhere else. I live in Jackson and it’s no secret that people love to hate on Jackson. I’m not naïve or turning a blind eye to our abundant room for improvement, but the community here is absolutely unmatched. It’s an underdog story—one where in order to better our city, you have to drown out the noise and band together with other Jackson zealots to make a change. A common passion and cause is what creates such deep community with other people and I have certainly found that here. 

Beyond that, I have lifelong history with my Mississippi friends and family. There are no
friends like old friends. I was in a pretty terrible accident a year and a half ago and still
get weepy every time I think about how people showed up for me and my family. It was the single most humbling experience of my life and I can only hope I can love others the way they loved me during that time. I know without a doubt, that wouldn’t have been the case if I had moved off elsewhere. Your people, those in your community, show up! I am evidence of that and am all the better for it.