Mississippi Native: Grace Greene

"I love Jackson—it’s a place worth fighting for."

What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Grace Greene jokes that having two kids in diapers during Jackson’s 2023 trash crisis was what pushed her to run for Jackson City Council. Grace is running for election in Ward 1, where she lives with her husband and four children. “Mississippi has its faults, and those of us living here know that,” Grace writes. “But the people and sense of community cannot be matched.” For Jackson residents, Election Day is June 3. You can vote absentee at City Hall through May 31. Today, Grace shares her priorities as a Jackson resident and a city council candidate.

Grace Greene lives in Jackson, MS.

Where are you from?

I was born in Wichita, KS, and lived in the Midwest until my family moved to the Fondren neighborhood in Jackson when I was in 5th grade. My mom still lives in the same home that we moved to when I was eleven.

Why did you leave Mississippi? Where did you go?

I left Mississippi to do missions and economic development work in Peru. Living in a country and culture different from my own when I was a young adult was incredibly formative for me, as I learned to see the world through a different lens. The experience of living overseas helped me appreciate Mississippi more when I returned.

Why did you return to Mississippi?

I was back and forth between Jackson and Peru after finishing my masters degree, as I was running Peru Paper Company, a fair trade business I founded with Peruvian women. I met my husband while home, and he was working with his family business at their Jackson location. So I had one foot in Mississippi and one foot abroad until meeting my husband. I’m thankful to be planted here and for the life he and I have built together.

Grace next to a campaign sign on a neighbor's fence in Ward 1.

Was the Mississippi you returned to the same one you had left?

We all have the experience of being a child and having your people and places chosen for you—you go to school where your parents choose, you go to church with your family, etc. As an adult, you get to choose your own places and community. I am blessed to be back in a place and have relationships with people who have known me since I was a child. I am also blessed to be in new and different spaces in Jackson than those I grew up in, and to have a new and different perspective of Jackson and Mississippi. As my perspective has grown, I’ve appreciated both the rootedness that comes from long relationships and the perspective of new relationships.

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

Home is where my people are. My people are primarily my family—my husband and four kids. But home is also the larger community. I love that even in Jackson, you run into people you know all over town. There is a sense of community here that most places do not have.

Grace reading to her daughter's JPS elementary school class.

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

I am thankful for the amazing community I have in so many places. Our neighborhood (Heatherwood in Jackson) is unique in that people truly know their neighbors. We are in each other’s homes, our kids are friends, we borrow eggs and flour, we celebrate holidays together, and more. Our church, St. Philips Episcopal in Jackson, is the most welcoming congregation. From the first time we visited, they have loved our family lavishly. We share our lives in addition to our faith. I also love my local gym, Crossfit JXN. I have been a member there for six years, and have made lifelong friends.

What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?

No one believes we really live in Jackson. When we tell people we live in Jackson, they assume we live in the suburbs. It’s then a chance for us to tell them what a wonderful place Jackson is, and what a rich life we have here.

Grace and her family.

How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?

I’m currently running for Jackson City Council. I can’t see myself doing this anywhere else, but I’m passionate enough about Jackson that it’s worth the sacrifice and work to put myself on the ballot and campaign. I love Jackson—it’s a place worth fighting for.

What inspired you to run for Jackson City Council? What do you hope to accomplish?

I jokingly tell people that having two kids in diapers with no trash pickup for over two weeks during the 2023 trash crisis pushed me over the edge. But it’s truly a love for Jackson and believing the residents deserve good governance. I hope to reestablish trust in local governance through responsiveness to constituents. I hope to advocate for the needs of Jackson and Ward 1 in particular. I want to be someone who represents all of Ward 1, no matter someone’s background or political leanings.

The council is primarily responsible for approving budgets and contracts, but they should also serve as advocates for their constituents. If there’s a problem the council doesn’t have direct authority over, they should work on behalf of constituents to help find solutions. They should also communicate with constituents—both proactively and reactively. Most people don’t know what is going on in city government and most don’t have the ability to regularly attend council meetings, so I hope to keep constituents aware of what is happening at City Hall, and to advocate for their needs.

I recently heard Stephen Brown of the Briarwood Arts Center say “you can either change zip codes, or you can change your zip code.” We’re not leaving, and I think this place that we love is worth fighting for.

Grace and her family at Jackson City Hall filing to run for city council.

What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?

I’ve learned about the importance of community and relationships in Mississippi. The relationships people have with you, your family, and the networks around you are valuable here in ways that they aren’t in other places around the country.

Do you ever think about moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?

We really don’t. My husband and I love to travel, but Mississippi will always be home.

What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?

Mississippi has its faults, and those of us living here know that. But the people and sense of community cannot be matched. I’ve compared it to family—you can complain about the faults of your family, but you will fiercely defend them if an outsider tries to criticize. I feel that way about Mississippi in general and Jackson in particular.

Is there a Mississippi change-maker who you think everyone needs to know about?

John Perkins—the work of Mr. Perkins at Voice of Calvary and the Perkins Center has positively impacted the most vulnerable in our city and state for decades. He founded the Christian Community Development Association, which has impacted communities across the nation and world by seeking to implement best practices in community development work to benefit vulnerable communities.

Grace and her husband an at the Mississippi Museum of Art for their Art Party fundraiser.

If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?

I would invest it in public education. I think the example of Jim Barksdale and the Barksdale Reading Institute shows just how much change can come from investing in public education. Our reading scores have already shot up tremendously since he started the reading institute, and the training and resources given to teachers will have a lasting impact on our state. Investing in the next generation through public education will benefit our entire state, and we’ve seen some of this already through the incredible educational improvements from the Barksdale Reading Institute.

What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)

First of all, my candidacy for city council. I promise to work hard and creatively on behalf of the residents of Ward 1. I also always shamelessly promote the City of Jackson and Jackson Public Schools. All of the country likes to hate on Mississippi, and all of Mississippi likes to hate on Jackson. But the majority of us in Jackson love it here. We love our neighborhoods, we love the restaurants, we love our churches, and we love the community. Sure, we can see the problems, but it’s like your family—we might complain about some things, but we’ll defend it fiercely if you start to hate on us. Related to that, I primarily heard negative things about Jackson Public Schools growing up in Jackson. When it came time to send our oldest to kindergarten, we looked at all the options for school. All of our children have only attended JPS schools, and we have had fantastic experiences.

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Grace Bateman Greene lives with her husband Mason and their four children in Jackson. She is a current candidate for Ward 1 city council. You can find out more about her at graceforjackson.com.

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