Theresa Grace Kennedy, a Moss Point native, credits her parents for the work ethic and drive that fuel her leadership. An alumna of Alcorn State University, she earned degrees in Business Administration and Agricultural Economics, competed on the 2001 SWAC Championship tennis team, and was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Theresa has built a wide-ranging career spanning agriculture, entrepreneurship, banking, political campaigns, small business consulting, city government, and community outreach. A trailblazer, she founded Red August—an early online retail business—and created pop-up events to support women entrepreneurs. As Deputy Director of Marketing for the City of Jackson, she helped develop the city’s marketing plan and launched Food Truck Friday, now a beloved community event. Her service includes leadership roles with Leadership Greater Jackson, Women for Progress, Delta Leadership Institute, and several civic and professional organizations. She has also led the Women’s Business Center of Mississippi and helped lay the groundwork for a downtown Arts District. In 2020, she launched Dear Sister!, a podcast for women focused on leadership, wellness, and personal growth. Theresa is the founder of fifty-five│twenty, LLC, a public relations and brand development agency, where she continues her advocacy for economic justice, gender equity, and community empowerment.