In this episode of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.", the host interviews participants of the Jackson Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce’s Follow Me into Business program.

Tyrone begins the show interviewing JMCAACC Executive Director Don A. McCorry about the JMCAACC, its history, who it serves and about its programs, especially its Follow Me into Business program. Participants (their name, their age and the school they attend) interviewed in this episode include:  Kenyon Manning, 17, Liberty Tech; Dana Jones, 15, Madison Academic; A’dereon Blalark, 13, North Parkway; Ashton Hart, 15, Madison Academic; Bray’lon Klyce, 14, Early-College High, and tony Billingsley, III, 13, West Bemis.

JMCAACC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a three-fold mission: The Growth and Development of  Member Businesses, Youth Entrepreneurial Development and Community  and  Economic Development in West Tennessee and particularly in Jackson  Madison County.

According to the organization’s website: “As the resource for African American business owners, partnerships and corporations in Rural West Tennessee, our objective is to help new and existing businesses reach their potential by using its resources to connect them with major corporations, community leaders, and other business owners so that they learn, grow and network for greater economic development and success. The strength of the businesses determines the strength of our communities and families. Our watchword is focus.”

The organization’s website also said: “In keeping with that mission, the organization highlights outstanding contemporary and historical business owners through our Annual Jewel Awards Banquet.  We train and educate young people, ages 12-18, for success in business (and in life) through our Follow Me Into Business® youth workforce development program that offers soft skills training, shadowing, mentoring and internships or paid summer jobs.  As part of the eight-week summer program, we also offer a tour of government offices and provide community service opportunities. We provide support for business owners with workshops and our latest effort is a new small business conference, the West Tennessee Business Showcase and Economic Development Conference.”

It also offers a morning of golf in fun with its Follow Me Celebrity Golf Classic held the second Tuesday in September.

For more information about JMCAACC, its programs, how to join and how to donate, visit jmcaacc.org.

In this episode of Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., the host interviews Margaret Taylor, executive director of A Step Ahead West Tennessee.

Taylor will speak about the history of the non-profit organization, how it operates and its goals, community outreach and more.

Taylor also spoke about the organization's fundraiser, the Vintage Ball, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, September 8, 2022, at the New Southern Hotel, located at 118 E. Baltimore Street, in Jackson, Tenn. This is an event for women to come together and wear vintage attire.

The event will feature a silent auction, door prizes and hors d'oeuvres. RSVP by calling (731) 695-9966 or buy tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/vintage-ball-tickets-376830629557. Tickets are $40 and sponsorships are available.

A Step Ahead West Tennessee aims to prevent teen and unintended pregnancies by providing FREE long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), the most effective reversible methods of birth control, to women in West Tennessee.

Learn more at www.asafwesttn.org.

In the Sunday, June 19, 2016 Episode 3, the host, Tyrone Tony Reed Jr., speaks with James Theus Jr., co-founder of the Society for African-American Cultural Awareness (SAACA), about Juneteenth (June 19). Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and Juneteenth Independence Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas on June 1865, and the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South.

Reed also spoke with Theus about Father's Day and the importance of fathers and father figures. To learn more about Juneteenth, visit http://www.juneteenth.com.

To learn more about SAACA, visit http://www.saaca.com. "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr." is proudly sponsored by Baskerville Funeral Home, RNR Tires Express & Custom Wheels, Stylz Menswear and the City of Brownsville.

If you or someone you know is interested in being a guest on "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr." or have a topic or topics you would like to see discussed on the show, please send an email to hubcitynowttr@outlook.com or leave a message on the Facebook page of "Hub City Now with Tyrone Tony Reed Jr." at www.facebook.com/hubcitynow1.