Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

summary evaluation of MSDI found that networkingoccurred at different levels: between communities,between communities and intermediaries, as wellbetween donors and grantees. Many cross-sitemeetings that have been held in the region have beenattended not only by grantees but also bypolicymakers, community leaders, and other donors.In retrospect, W.K. Kellogg realizes that a key factorin MSDI’s success has been ensuring thatopportunities were created for all stakeholders tonetwork, interact, and share ideas.Furthermore, the Foundation also realizes thatcoaching “is an indispensable part of the MSDImodel.” 54 It invested resources in creating a cadre of15 community change coaches, one for each of the15 community teams working in 27 of the 55counties and parishes in the region. The coacheswork with individual grantees and guide them“through the challenges of strategic planning,coalition-building, program implementation, andevaluation.” 55 The coaches themselves work with eachother as a group and learn from each other. Thecoaching model has in effect created a resourcenetwork for the region that did not previously exist.care about you, then that provides inspiration and afeeling that we can move forward.”54“What We’ve Learned,” available at www.msdi.org/learned/.55“Ripples of Change in the Delta 2003-4,” available atwww.msdi.org/documents/ripplesofchange.pdf.Contact PeopleGloria DickersonRegional Program CoordinatorW.K. Kellogg Foundationgloria.dickerson@wkkf.org(601) 944-4170Frank TaylorProgram Director, Food Systems & RuralDevelopmentW.K. Kellogg Foundationfct@wkkf.org(269) 968-1611Bishop Alvin B. WalkerExecutive DirectorRENEWAL, Inc.bishop.walker@renewalinc.org(318) 387-0686Oak wetlands in the Arkansas Delta, at the Louisiana Purchase State Parknear Brinkley. (Source: Mid South Delta Initiative).The Foundation recognizes that to move towardsbuilding a successful regional equity movement, ithas to work with and through community andregional networks in order to connect pockets ofactivism, advocacy, resistance, and hope. Dickerson,W.K. Kellogg’s key staff person in the Delta,summarizes that the Foundation’s presence in aregion pervaded by a sense of hopelessness has beeninstrumental in lifting people’s spirits. As sheexplains, “People in the area need to know that thereis someone out there that can offer some hope, andonce you have a national organization saying that weREGIONAL OPPORTUNITYPart III: Section 3: Connecting to Regional Opportunity 114