The City of Jackson, Mississippi, and Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba launched Fertile Ground, a series of public art installations which address the inequities of food access in Jackson. An interdisciplinary team of artists, landscape architects, filmmakers, farmers, gardeners, chefs, nutritionists, and community members united to create a city-wide exhibition, highlighting the need for healthier food throughout Mississippi. The project energized citizens and policymakers to address barriers to urban food access and inspired the commissioning of another three learning gardens across the state to promote healthy eating to school children.

“This [project] is helping Jackson build a vision for a new economy, based on sustainable development goals, quality of education, equity of infrastructure, and providing fresh fruits and vegetables to people,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. “I’m proud that Jackson is providing leadership to Mississippi, and to the world, with this art project.”

– Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba