08/29/2026
CSE is deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Lydia Didia, a beloved professor in Jackson State University’s College of Business and one of the key organizers of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders – Mississippi site visits.
Each year, Dr. Didia championed opportunities for CSE to engage with emerging leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa. Because of her belief in the value of connecting global ideas with local communities, CSE created the iVillage Global Think Tank, inviting the fellows to walk through West Jackson, listen, observe, and help us reimagine new possibilities for our neighborhood.
During one Think Tank, the Fellows challenged us to create a neighborhood farming network where families could grow fresh food, help sustain their households, and share their harvest with neighbors.
The following year, another cohort challenged us to think even bigger: What if those neighborhood gardens could also create economic opportunity? In a community with few traditional storefronts, they envisioned a Market Day where neighborhood growers could sell their produce, supplement their incomes, and build a stronger local economy.
This year, through grant funding and the support of our partners, both of those ideas are becoming reality.
And there is something especially meaningful about the timing.
This Saturday, as neighbors gather for our Community Roots Planting Day, we will literally place seeds into the soil connected to conversations Dr. Didia helped make possible. This Fall, we will take the next step by launching our neighborhood Market Days.
What began as ideas shared around a table - turned into practical and forward-thinking solutions that are now taking root in West Jackson.
Dr. Didia, this is part of your legacy. Job well done. Your work lives on through the works of your hands.
Rest in Power.
