Jackson Free Press

Ed "The Prezs" Blount, 38, wants to form a new type of neighborhood association. Working as a bartender at the Upper Level by night, and driving a Head Start school bus by day, Blount recognizes the need for direction and unity in neighborhoods. To jumpstart his community movement, he and the Dalton/Deerpark Neighborhood Association are holding the first Neighborhood Homecoming.

"It's the history of your neighborhood—where we came from," he says, adding that today, many neighborhoods are going nowhere.

The Jackson native and graduate of All Saints Episcopal High School in Vicksburg says there are serious problems facing neighborhoods in Jackson that need to be addressed, like overgrown yards of demolished homes and social evils endangering youth.

"We have problems with everything from prostitution to drugs and solicitation," Blount says. "We need to talk about this stuff because somewhere along the line we're just (paying) taxes and (taking) checks."

He also expresses concern for young people caught under the GED scheme. He says that young people see the GED as something to fall back on when they drop out of school, instead of a last resort. "I come into contact with kids who don't know (anything)," Blount says. "The GED killed the concern for education."

Before Blount arrived at this juncture in his life, he attended Grambling State University in Louisiana, then transferred to different colleges throughout Mississippi. Blount says that after that, he "transferred to life."

Part of that life includes recording music. The neighborhood homecoming is not only a platform to discuss neighborhood issues, but is also a way for Blount to promote his music collective, Infamiss Underworld, and disseminate their music. Blount opens his home and recording equipment to rappers who want to lay down tracks, in exchange for whatever they can give. "It's just like church. The doors are always open," he says.

The Infamiss Underworld calls their music "real talk music." It's the stuff that "9-to-5-ers" don't see. "It ain't gospel music, but it's the gospel truth," Blount says, adding that he also enjoys recording "new blues"—a fusion of gospel, blues, jazz and spoken word.

The Neighborhood Homecoming will be held Oct. 26 at 902 Dalton Street, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Live performers include Goobie, Westside Al, Infamiss Underworld and the Northside Residers Assoc. Blount hopes to recruit other musicians as well. People are encouraged to bring hot dogs for a potluck. Other needed items include buns, condiments and drinks. For more information, call Blount at 601-983-9936.