YOLANDA R. OWENS (2023—24) is an accomplished professional with a background in civil engineering and contract administration. Recently appointed as the Chief Operating Officer for the Jackson Redevelopment Authority (JRA), she is focused on expanding the operational capacity and strategic vision of the organization. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Jackson State University Development Foundation, bringing several years of non-profit fundraising experience to her role. Her corporate and volunteer work spans project management, strategic planning, and capacity building across corporate, higher education, and non-profit sectors. This distinctive skill set positions her to drive impactful initiatives, including her work on the Farish Street Historic District revitalization project.
What was the impact of the FUSE fellowship on you (professionally and personally)?
One of the pieces of this that I really enjoy sharing is that I have this unusual mix of experiences. I started out in engineering with a degree in civil engineering and spent 10-12 years in technical design before moving into contracting and procurement. I even have some experience in fundraising. I always thought I’d have to choose one of those areas, but with this FUSE Fellowship, I was able to pull from all those experiences and apply them. It was surprising and exciting that my unique blend made me a great fit for this role.
Both personally and professionally, the fellowship allowed me to combine everything I know and love into one role—right here in my home state. I’ve lived in Georgia and Texas, but being able to bring all my experience and passion together for a role in Mississippi has been incredibly meaningful.
What are the big challenges on which you are working now, what are you hoping to achieve in the next 6-12 months, and how has your FUSE experience prepared you to approach them?
The big challenge is twofold. First, we are focused on building the operational capacity of our organization. We’ve made great strides since I joined: three months after I came on board, we hired an executive director, then a CFO, and I’m now in the position of COO. Building out our team is essential for laying the foundation for the big work we need to accomplish.
Second, I continue working on the Farish Street project, engaging developers who are genuinely interested in rebuilding downtown Jackson. We’re working with five developers who are close to securing financing to revitalize several blocks in the Farish Street District, which is near Capitol Street in downtown Jackson.
Over the next 6-12 months, we hope to be ready for groundbreakings and to announce new projects and businesses coming into the downtown area. My FUSE experience laid the groundwork for this vision. It set a foundation for what I’m doing now and what I’ll continue to pursue in the years ahead.
Related work and news:
Green space is latest improvement to Farish Street district (video)
Portions of Historic Farish Street turn into green spaces with $1.5 million investment
