#HappyBirthday, William F. Winter! William Winter was an instrumental figure in Mississippi history. Hailing from Grenada, he held a number of statewide offices and eventually landed the coveted position of governor in 1980. His landmark achievement was the Education Reform Act of 1982, which established compulsory school attendance, created state-funded kindergartens, increased teacher pay, authorized the hiring of teaching assistants and truant officers, and implemented a statewide testing program for performance-based accreditation of public schools. He was also instrumental in helping to secure funds for the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, a place he fondly called "Mississippi’s largest classroom." This poster #fromthecollection depicts Winter’s second run for governor of Mississippi in 1975.

Visit the Two Mississippi Museums for free admission in honor of William Winter's life and work, sponsored by Jones Walker LLP.

*I wrote this post, which went through a review process by my colleagues at the time.

*Image is courtesy of MDAH.

2025 Mississippi Makers Fest

Country and rock singer and American Idol finalist Colin Stough will headline the  2025 Mississippi Makers Fest, a free music, food, and arts festival presented by Nissan North America. The annual event will take place at the Two Mississippi Museums on the Entergy Plaza in downtown Jackson, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10. Other performers include American folk rock band HAPPY LANDING, blues artist Jamell Richardson, and bluegrass band The BTJ Trio. All four acts are Mississippi natives.

Other sponsors include Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, Nancy and Ray Neilsen, Foundation for Mississippi History, AT&T, StateStreetGroup, Visit Jackson, Visit Mississippi, Mississippi Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Lucid Ink Printing, Mississippi Tent & Party Rental, Fertile Ground Beer Co., Yuengling Flight, Cathead Distillery, Clark Beverage Group, Inc., and Your Hometown Country US96 and 93.5 The Legend radio stations.

*I contributed to copy for this website post.

Your child's mental health is incredibly important, but it's only one aspect of their journey to wellness. From ensuring proper nutrition and safety to fostering responsive caregiving, every small step toward overall health makes a big difference.

In honor of Child Health Day, check out our tips for creating a nurturing environment that supports your child at all stages of growth.

*I edited this post as the first-level approver.

*Image courtesy of Youth Villages' Digital Communications team.