Jackson Progress-Argus

The United Coalition of Jackson invites the Jackson Butts County community to the 24th Annual King Holiday Celebration on Monday, January 18 at 1:30 p.m. at the Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 709 South Mulberry Street in Jackson.

Our speaker will be Christopher Hightower, an Educator, Orator, Motivator, and Encourager. A native of Barnesville, Brother Hightower was re-elected to the Barnesville City Council in 2009 in a special election to serve a year and then was re-elected, without opposition, to serve the next four years.

Hightower was given a vision to provide a positive outlet for the youth of the community and to celebrate the Martin Luther King National Holiday while honoring the unsung African American heroes of his hometown. Thus he founded the Youth Ambassadors organization, a mentoring group, and the Barnesville Lamar County Martin Luther King Weekend Celebration with events including the Youth Leadership Conference, the Black Excellence Awards Banquet and the King Celebration Commemorative Service.

Hightower obtained his Master's degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. While at UGA, he was instrumental in forming the University's chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and served as its first president. Prior to accepting his current position of senior English teacher at Luella High School in Locust Grove, he served as the coordinator of the Flint River Tech Prep/School to Work Consortium.

This year's theme is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not a Day Off!" We will have special presentations from the youth of Butts County.