Andy Frame Email & Phone Number

At Revitalize Mississippi, I've lead the nonprofit's efforts to clean up vacant and abandoned properties in Jackson, MS, and help strengthen neighborhoods most impacted by abandonment. We work with community organizations such as churches and nonprofits, businesses, neighborhood residents, philanthropic foundations, and government agencies, and do our best to be open to working with anyone interested in cleaning up and working together. Since late 2016, Revitalize Mississippi has cleaned up more than 800 properties, including more than 200 demolitions. Almost all of those properties were then acquired by neighborhood residents or community stakeholders.In 2021, Revitalize Mississippi began acquiring properties in West Jackson, to strategically target two neighborhoods on either side of W. Capitol Street (Country Club Place and Colonial Heights). I facilitated the acquisition of about 100 properties by Revitalize Mississippi. Since acquisition, we demolished more than 40 dilapidated houses and worked with a neighborhood-based lawn care business to maintain the properties. Now that the properties are stabilized and back on the tax rolls, we've been working with neighborhood residents and community organizations to find the next owner who would have a positive vision and plan for each property. We've conveyed about 30 properties to neighbors this year.In 2023, my favorite project was working with Magnolia Sunset Markets, Operation Shoestring, Zoo Area Progressive Partnership, Briarwood Arts Center, the City of Jackson and so many other people, businesses and organizations to put on ZooChilla Arts and Music Festival (https://www.facebook.com/events/196734040125884/) at the Jackson Zoo. We were able to reactivate an incredible event space in West Jackson, but the best part about it all was building strong relationships and working together to make it all happen. That's what I plan to keep doing.