Jackson Free Press

Every year just in time for the JFP Chick Ball, we name our roster of "Chicks We Love." Yes, we know they are powerful women; that's why we pick them. But just as we did when we took back the word "chick" as the name of our annual domestic-abuse fundraiser eight years ago, we love calling them "chicks." Maybe because the word was once meant to degrade us. Maybe it's because there's a fun vibe to the word that means that these women are serious, but like to have a great time while loving life and all sorts of people. That is the kind of woman we honor every year at the JFP Chick Ball; be in Hal & Mal's Red Room around 8 p.m. Saturday to toast these women. They're plain fabulous, no matter what you call them.

Christy Harrison by Sara Sacks

Christy Harrison grew up with a desire to help others. Now she gets to every day as a social worker at St. Dominic Hospital specializing in victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Harrison understands the struggles her patients go through, having experienced violence both as a child and an adult. "There was always someone there to help me when I needed it," Harrison says, "and I always want to be there for that person, too, whoever it is."

For much of her childhood, Harrison, 38, provided a guiding hand for individuals in need, volunteering at a camp for children and adults with disabilities. Getting the idea to go into social work from a TV program, she would later earn both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Now, Harrison is one of 12 social workers at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson where she and the current ER director, Nikki Nissen, have rewritten protocol concerning how to deal with admitted assault victims.

St. Dominic is a non-profit hospital, which Harrison says benefits the way they deal with individual patients. "They've been very focused on the person and the patient, and not just the bottom line," she says.

Though Harrison experiences some difficult things in her career as a social worker, she finds value and self-fulfillment through her job. "I've got to be able to know that I've done something for somebody else at the end of the day," she says. "I think that's what we're all here for. And it hurts my heart if I'm not doing that."

Constance Garnett by Elyane Alexander

Her motto is to put God first, focus on your dreams and be determined to make it happen.

Constance Garnett, a self-driven businesswoman who has worked for Oce North America for the past four years as the sales manager, is driven to be successful. Originally from the Delta, this Mississippi native has made a way for herself.

Garnett says it took a lot of focus and determination to be in corporate America for 19 years: "I have drive and ambition to succeed in everything I do." She says in the business of sales, you have to build a relationship with customers by being a people person, and that she cares about people. Her long-term goal is to become vice president of a company. "I want to be the wind behind the wing," she says.

This Delta native owes all her success to her mom, Dorothy Clark. "She is the most instrumental person in my life. She taught me to be determined to be somebody at the age of 9," Garnett says.

Throughout her childhood, Constance also regularly attended camps that helped shape and mold her. "This experience has helped me to become versatile, relatable and to do presentations on any level," she says. She challenges parents today to do the same, asking, "What are you going to surround your children with now, that will help them in the next 10 years?"

Garnett loves to give back in the community. "It is a privilege for me to be working with the Center (for Violence Prevention)," she says. Her sister, Candice, introduced Greene to the Center where she is now on the advisory board. They are a great organization, and any exposure will enhance their work and let the people know that they are a great outlet."

Emberly Holmes by Christianna Jackson

Emberly Holmes, 43, feels fortunate to have a job that is both rewarding and enjoyable. Holmes monitors the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program as division director for the program under the Division of Public Safety Planning for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.

"I'm paid to do a job that makes a huge difference and impacts individual lives," she says.

A STOP grant allows the Center for Violence Prevention in Pearl to offer free legal services and support to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. "Without the funds, many women will stay in dangerous situations that might lead to homicide, which is the worst-case scenario," Holmes says.

The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)—now stalled in Congress—authorized the STOP program. Its funding also aims to improve prosecution strategies and effective law enforcement in cases involving violence against women. "I thoroughly enjoy what I do," Holmes says.

Holmes, a Jackson native, graduated from Murrah High School and received a bachelor's degree in mass communications and a master's in public policy and administration from Jackson State University. She has worked with other justice programs under the Department of Public Safety since 1995.

Holmes is a single mother of two children: daughter Ember, 23, and son Emani, 17. She loves to play tennis, dance and travel. Her favorite place to travel? "Jamaica, ya mon!"

Kristen Ley by Allie Jordan

Artist Kristen Ley is continually amazed by the amount of support she receives from the Jackson community for her work.

"I'm still so humbled that people want to put my art on their walls. I've seen that when people are passionate about the city, the city becomes passionate about them." Ley says.

But, it's really no surprise that she gets community support. The 27-year-old uses her talents in art and graphic design to uplift the city whenever possible. "We have so much talent here in Mississippi and Jackson. I'd love to help create opportunities for people who love art and who love to create to express that," Ley says.

Through her involvement in the Leadership Greater Jackson class from which she just graduated, she designed promotional materials for philanthropic programs at Oak Forest Elementary School and volunteered with those programs. She also created a set of fine-art watercolor prints of her favorite places in Jackson, such as Brent's Drugs in Fondren and the Standard Life building downtown.

Though Ley graduated from Mississippi State University in 2007 with a degree in graphic design and a minor in marketing, she expresses her creativity in many forms. She enjoys painting, sewing, designing, woodworking and letter-pressing. "It's really therapeutic. Creating and doing things creates a satisfaction for me; it gives me a moment of quiet to get my thoughts out in a piece of art," Ley says.

Earlier this year she launched Thimblepress, a studio for her various art forms.

Ley attended high school at Jackson Academy where she now works as a graphic designer. She also does freelance design, including this week's cover art of the Chick Issue.

Whenever Ley isn't being crafty, she enjoys hanging out with her goldendoodle, Willow, and her cat, Norman.

Heather McTeer by Adria Walker

Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going." Heather McTeer takes that motto as a personal credo. "There are a lot of tough things a woman in politics has to go through, but you must keep on pushing and going," McTeer says. "Don't only follow the trail that's been set before us, but also lay a trail for the young women after us."

McTeer was elected mayor of Greenville in 2003, and re-elected in 2007. Not only was she the city's first female mayor, but McTeer was also the first African American to hold the position of mayor. Being mayor was very challenging but extremely rewarding.

"Every day I was able to improve the lives of people in the community. Not everyone agreed with me, but that is the nature of politics. It taught me how to build consensus," she says.

The National Women's Political Caucus endorsed McTeer when she ran for Congress this year against Rep. Bennie Thompson. She is trying to get more women in politics, because Mississippi is one of four states that have never sent a woman to Congress. McTeer strongly supports women's rights and reproductive rights.

McTeer, 36, graduated in 1998 from Spelmen College in Atlanta with a bachelor of arts in sociology, and she earned her juris doctorate at New Orleans' Tulane University Law School. She is now a practicing attorney in Greenville. She also serves as the state director for Political Institute for Women; the national spokeswoman for She Should Run!, a program that encourages women to run for public offices, and as a chairwoman of EPA's Local Government Advisory Committee.

Janis Boersma by Matthew Bolian

You've probably seen her before. Maybe you remember her as a security guard dressed in fishnet stockings hitting people with a whip in the Sweet Potato Queens parade entourage, or perhaps she is your fitness instructor at the Courthouse or Baptist Healthplex. Maybe you have been to Nick's Restaurant sometime in the last 23 years, and she was your server, or you spotted her walking out of her pink house on Mitchell Street. No matter how you know Janis Boersma, one thing is for sure: She is somebody you don't easily forget.

Boersma, a 58-year-old Arkansas native, moved to Jackson in 1987.

Since then, she has worked at Nick's Restaurant, and for the past five years Boersma won the Jackson Free Press' Best Server in Jackson award. When it comes to revealing the secret to her success, she leans in and whispers, "It's addictive; my customers are addictive."

Smart and energetic, this former librarian and photography teacher is so much more than an amazing server. She is a longtime member of the all-women So Fondren, So Fabulous group, a fitness instructor, an avid church-goer and a staunch beer advocate.

In fact, you could call Boersma the mother of brewpubs in Mississippi; state Sen. John Horhn cites Boersma as the inspiration behind his brewpub bill.

So if you find yourself hungry on a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, head over to Nick's and meet Janis Boersma. She will greet you with bright blue eyes, a big welcoming grin and, if your timing is right, a hair color not found in nature.

Grace Greene by Sam Suttle

Many corporations have profited for years off the poor living conditions and lack of regulations offered by third-world countries, but Grace Greene, 30, chose a different business model. As founder and CEO of Peru Paper Company, she didn't just want to give women and their families the means to survive, she wanted to give them the means to live. By creating a business, she offered women who lived in poverty and suffered from low self-worth the opportunity to take control of their lives.

Peru Paper Company (http://www.perupaper.com) is based in the city of Trujillo, Peru, where its employees produce handmade greeting cards using recycled materials. When Greene visited Peru in the late '90s, she had no idea that this would be on her horizon, but it was the first of many short-term missions she would go on throughout high school. Eventually, she decided to spend two and a half years in Trujillo teaching English for a group called Peru Mission.

During this time the seeds were sown for what eventually became Peru Paper Company.

"Charity often makes people feel more dependent," Greene says. Their work not only provides for their family, it helps them realize their importance to the family and society. Now they are essentially in charge of Peru Paper, and "the direction it takes" Greene says, "is up to them."

The project that began with three employees and drastically limited funds, and resources has grown to be a thriving business with 15 employees. These women aren't just putting food on the table now; they're paying for their children's education, for dental care and for housing renovations.

Greene credits "a lot of work and a lot of prayer" as the reason why Peru Paper has done so well. She didn't offer any other explanation because, like every good businesswoman, she's busy, and, as every missionary knows, you can't explain it.

Locally, Greene is on the advisory board for the Center for Violence Prevention.

Rosemary Horne by Darnell Jackson

Rosemary Horne lives by her favorite quote: "The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you." With that guiding her, Horne is able to fight for victims of violent crimes.

Now, she is the state project director for the Victims of Crime Act. Horne has worked with the Mississippi Division of Public Safety Planning under the Department of Public Safety managing federal funds awarded to the state to fund services for victims of violent crimes for the past five years.

Horne says victims of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide and other underserved victims of elderly abuse, human trafficking and cyber-bullying are the major categories of violent crimes she works to combat through her position.

"I love what I do," says the 42-year-old mother of two and proud grandmother of one. Throughout her 19 years of service with the state, Horne has worked in several departments, including the Mississippi Department of Health, Division of Medicaid and the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).

This month, the Mississippi Division of Public Safety Planning was awarded a $3.8 million grant for assistance and services for victims.

Through her position, Horne will manage funds from this grant with priority attention going to victims of violence that she fights for daily. Funds also will go to assist victims of federal crimes, assault, robbery, gang violence, hate and bias crimes, fraud and more.

Just as the JFP Chick Ball does annually with the Center for Violence Prevention, Horne enjoys working to help victims of violent crimes year round.

Lauren McGraw by Dylan Irby

When her (now ex-)husband was not interested in buying a portable toilet company because he "didn't want to be in the crap business," Lauren McGraw decided to buy the company herself in 1997. She got the idea at a rental show meeting 15 years ago in New Orleans.

McGraw is now the founder and CEO of the largest female-owned portable toilet company in the Southeast, Gotta Go.

Gotta Go provides portable toilet rentals for construction sites, disaster relief and special events. "We started renting toilets and a whole lot more," McGraw said. Gotta Go also rents out shower trailers for places without running water, larger bathroom trailers, hand-washing stations and water delivery. For waste managing, the company provides dumpsters and recycling pickup.

McGraw also owns Gotta Jump, an inflatable bounce-house company and the first liquor store in Flora called Cotton Exchange Liquor Store. Her entrepreneurial endeavors involve about 16 employees, 10 trucks and 2,000 portable toilets. She services 10 Mississippi counties.

Gotta Go went from simple toilet rentals to a multi-faceted organization that does a lot to help out the public. It provides services that people need and some that the state or city might not be able to pay for. Whether it's helping out with a disaster, construction or events, Lauren McGraw has built a company that helps out people in the Jackson community, all the while being one of Jackson's sassiest entrepreneurs.