In this episode of Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., the host interviewed Mulata Moba of Motema Ministries.

Moba spoke about the 11th Annual Taste of the Congo fundraiser, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2022. The event will be held at West Jackson Baptist Church, located at 580 Oil Well Road in Jackson, Tennessee. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for adults in advance, $35 at the door, $15 for ages 11-17 and free for children 10 and under. Tables reservations are $240 (8 seats).

Come enjoy the tastes and sounds of the Congo with a night of Congolese cuisine, music and fashion to benefit Motema Ministries’ work in the Congo.

Mottema Ministries is “a community of Christians wishing to share the Gospel through empowerment and education with good works and deeds in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Motema means “heart” in Lingala, one of the primary languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This simple word represents what drives this organization—a heart for God and a heart for people. In all we do, we at Motema Ministries try to use our hearts to serve people in the Congo.”

The non-profit organization teaches women and men in the Congo to sew and equips them with the skills and tools to become entrepreneurs.

According to the organization, “The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the largest countries in Africa. It is home to over 75 million people and more than 200 different ethnic groups. Yet, despite its size and diversity, Congo is one of the world’s most poor and broken countries. Years of war and a crumbling economy have ravaged the country, meaning that the average Congolese person must struggle to make a living. Motema seeks to step into these difficult circumstances and provide opportunities to help young entrepreneurs, families, and children. Currently, we operate a vocational sewing school in Masina, a district of Kinshasa, the nation’s capital.”

“At the school, people from the community take part in a multiple-month sewing course, learning how to sew from scratch, free of charge. In a country like Congo where trips to the tailor are a common occurrence, learning this critical vocational skill can provide a source of income and help in finding a job. In some cases, the training has provided young entrepreneurs the impetus needed to begin producing and selling their own products. Students are also mentored by Motema’s staff in Congo and learn about what it means to follow Christ.”

For more information, visit www.motemaministries.org

In this episode of "Hub City Now" host Tyrone Tony Reed Jr. interviewed world-renowned, award-winning illustrator, author, comic strip artist and songwriter Guy Gilchrist (best known as Jim Henson's cartoonist).

In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews Mary Ross, Director of Sales, Catering and Marketing at Doubletree by Hilton Jackson.

Ross, who is a Sterling Award winner and was recently recognized as the "Most Influential Woman" by City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger,  shared with listeners how she came to become part of the Cooper Hotels team and how that changed the trajectory of her career.

She also spoke about the recent announcement by DoubleTree by Hilton Jackson of  a commitment of 100 volunteer hours to be spent among the West Tennessee Veterans Coalition, RIFA Jackson and Boys & Girls Club of Jackson. While the hotel already supports many local non-profits, this renewed commitment ensures an even stronger effort will be made by the DoubleTree by Hilton Jackson team.

The 100 volunteer hours are in celebration of the hotel’s parent company, Cooper Hotels of Memphis, committing to 100 years of future Hilton brand affiliation among its 16 hotels and its $100 million planned Hilton investment in hotel upgrades.

“Cooper Hotels and our team at DoubleTree by Hilton Jackson are thrilled to continue our company’s longtime relationship with Hilton for another 100 years and to provide $100 million in renovations and makeovers to ensure our hotels remain the leaders in their markets,” said Pace Cooper, president and CEO of Cooper Hotels. “What better way to celebrate these achievements than to share 100 hours of volunteer time with these organizations.”

The 16 Cooper Hotels properties each selected a special local organization to receive 100 hours of volunteer time. The chosen organizations have missions to help strengthen the community, help preserve the environment or foster youth opportunities.

About Cooper Hotels

Cooper Hotels is a privately owned hotel development and management company founded in 1959. The company owns and manages 16 Hilton Family of Brands hotels in four states including three Hilton hotels, seven DoubleTree by Hilton hotels, two Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels, two Hilton Garden Inn hotels, one Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and one Embassy Suites by Hilton. For more information about Cooper Hotels please visit www.cooperhotels.com.