Mid South Delta Leaders Program Now Accepting Applications
Established in 1997 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (www.wkkf.org), the Mid South Delta Initiative (www.msdi.org) is a long-term economic, community, and leadership development effort focused on fifty-five contiguous counties and parishes along the Mississippi River in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. As part of this effort, the Mid South Delta Leadership program is building a network of diverse leaders willing to work across economic, social, and racial divides to shape policies and strategies for education and economic development in the Delta Region. MSDL is currently accepting applications for its third class. MSDL consists of three eighteen-month classes, which include a series of three-day learning retreats, study-travel tours to each of the three state capitals, a Delta Heritage Tour, and meetings of issue-based teams. Forty-five class members, fifteen from each state, will participate in a curriculum that is designed to improve the leadership, management, and communication skills of its participants. MSDL class members represent a wide variety of fields and sectors, including K-12 education, higher education, the nonprofit sector, the public and private sectors, the self-employed, and community volunteers. This policy, in turn, ensures the inclusion of a broad range of stakeholders, particularly those traditionally under-represented in community and economic development efforts. For complete program information and application procedures, visit the MSDI Web site. Deadline: July 21, 2006.