Stop Data Centers! People Over Politics (Jackson)
About this Event
People Over Politics: Stop Data Centers
Jackson Community Training
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CT
Location: Kirksey Middle School, 5677 Highland Drive, Jackson, MS 39206
Cost: Free, registration required
Free dinner and childcare will be provided. Free parking is available.
Join Mississippi for a Just World and the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition for People Over Politics: Stop Data Centers, a free community advocacy training in Jackson, Mississippi.
Across Mississippi, data centers are being proposed and developed with little transparency, while communities are left asking important questions about water use, energy demand, environmental impacts, public costs, and who benefits from these projects. This training will help community members better understand what data centers are, how they can affect local communities, and what everyday residents can do to protect their neighborhoods.
During this two-hour training, participants will learn the basics of data centers, discuss the environmental and health risks they may create, review what is happening with data center development in Jackson and across Mississippi, and work together to begin building a community advocacy plan.
No prior experience is needed. This training is designed for community members, parents, students, organizers, faith leaders, neighborhood leaders, and anyone who wants to learn how to take action.
Participants Will Learn
As part of the training, participants will learn:
- What data centers are and why they are expanding in Mississippi
- How data centers can impact water, energy, land use, public infrastructure, and community health
- What is currently happening with data center development in Jackson and across the state
- How to research data center proposals, public records, city council actions, planning board decisions, and local policy changes
- How to identify decision-makers and power map city council members, planning boards, developers, and other key stakeholders
- The difference between campaign goals, tactics, targets, and actions
- How to begin building a community campaign to stop harmful data center development and protect Jackson communities
Participants Will Receive
Participants will receive:
- A People Over Politics Advocacy Workbook
- A community training on data centers, environmental justice, and local advocacy
- Tools for researching data center developments and local government decisions
- A campaign planning framework to help residents move from concern to action
- Opportunities to connect with other Jackson residents and community advocates
- Information about future ways to stay involved with MSJW’s People Over Politics program
Who Should Attend
This training is open to anyone who wants to:
- Understand what data centers are and how they impact communities
- Learn more about proposed data center developments in Jackson and Mississippi
- Protect their neighborhood from harmful development
- Learn how to speak up at city council, planning board, and public meetings
- Build advocacy skills with other community members
- Create a plan to protect Jackson residents, public resources, and community health
- Get involved with People Over Politics and local organizing efforts
Whether you are new to advocacy or already organizing in your community, this training will provide practical tools, shared information, and space to plan next steps together.
Event Details:
Location: Kirksey Middle School, 5677 Highland Drive, Jackson, MS 39206
Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM CT
Cost: Free, registration required
Free dinner and childcare will be provided for attendees. Free parking is available.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
