Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

Economic development initiatives sparked policyefforts such as the mobilization of 3,000 residents inJefferson County, Ark., to demand a living wagehigher than the minimum wage to help families meetliving costs in Pine Bluff, Ark. The issue was placedon the November 2004 election ballot. Even thoughthe proposal was narrowly defeated, organizedactivism has clearly been stirred and a base now existsupon which future policy efforts can be built.People’s Institute to address the challenge of workingacross racial lines. Dickerson, based at W.K. Kellogg’soffice in the Delta, acknowledges that race continuesto be a difficult issue to bridge, noting that somecommunities declined to participate in the seminars.But progress has been made, she says, adding thatMSDI remains steadfast in its belief that unlockingthe full potential of the Delta depends on breakingdown such historical divides. The latest summaryevaluation of MSDI, conducted by the Academy forEducational Development, points to some promisingexamples of such collaborations across race, rangingfrom black and white church congregations inJonesboro, Ark., uniting to create more affordablehousing, to a team of black and white communitymembers coming together to focus on education andhealth care in Belzoni and Humphreys counties inMississippi.REGIONAL OPPORTUNITYYoung people working in the West Holmes, Miss., Community DevelopmentOrganization’s Vegetable Garden. The Vegetable Garden Project placesemphasis on youth development and employment opportunities and keepsyoung adults from leaving the county to look for employment by creatingpartnerships that will work as an incentive to keep them in West Holmes.Through the organization’s Senior Voucher Program, elderly people receivefresh produce from the Garden. (Source: Mid South Delta Initiative).Recognizing that collaboration across historicaldivides—such as race, religion, class, or geography—would be crucial to achieving lasting change in theDelta, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has deliberatelysought to create opportunities that would bringDelta residents of all backgrounds together to worktoward change. With race an obvious and oftendifficult barrier, special seminars were offered by theLessons LearnedStaff members of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation havecome to appreciate that MSDI is still in a learningphase, and its place-based regional approach is stillevolving. They recognize the importance of shapingthe initiative based on input of those who wouldbenefit. Before launching the initiative, W.K. Kelloggembarked on “listening visits” for 18 months to getfeedback about what residents would like to seehappen in their communities. Taylor validates that“the value of the listening exercise was so importantand cannot be overestimated, [as W.K. Kelloggrepresentatives] still hear how much the granteesrespected” that effort.W.K. Kellogg believes that another critical elementwas having an office based in the Delta and staffedby a program officer with deep roots in the area. Bymaintaining a local presence, the Foundation sent aclear message that it wanted to be a “true partner,”explains Taylor. In addition, having a local officeprovided W.K. Kellogg with “an invaluable vantagepoint from which to observe and experience firsthandsome of the challenges faced in the Delta.” 53To ensure regional impact, W.K. Kellogg “spent agreat deal of time networking the teams with eachother across the region and building a web ofrelationships and learning. There are so manysimilarities across state lines in the Delta that it madesense to connect the dots,” clarifies Taylor. The latest53“What We’ve Learned,” available at www.msdi.org/learned/.113Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities