TAKE THE DELTA CHALLENGE
Arkansas Design Work Group Members Host Conversations on Arkansas Delta’s Future

In an unprecedented effort to identify barriers to progress and develop solutions for the future of the Arkansas Delta, the Arkansas Design Work Groups will host conversations with grassroots community members, as well as non-profits, agencies and businesses during two “Take the Delta Challenge” conferences.

The conferences will be held on Thursday, October 18 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center in Pine Bluff and on Friday, October 19 at the Holiday Inn & Convention Center in West Memphis.

The Arkansas Design Work Groups are a consortium of 61 Arkansas residents, representing 26 Arkansas Delta counties and who range in age from 17 to 70, funded primarily by the Mid South Delta Initiative (MSDI), a W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Beginning in the fall of 2006, this delegation began working together through training and research to ultimately design a long-term strategic plan that will have a positive and sustainable impact on the Arkansas Delta.

These conferences are designed to collect information on innovative best practices, hear from consumers and collectively develop solutions for the Delta on a whole range of topics. “As a group we will identify gaps and work together to develop and document possible solutions,” Max Sprinkle, conference chairperson, commented.

He further stated, “We strive to engage people and groups who are often missing from community change efforts, and we support new approaches that challenge and change the thinking and habits of the Delta. We stand to learn a great deal and hope to build lasting alliances with the attendees that will facilitate the implementation of a long-term strategic plan to Lift Up the Delta.”

To promote this exploration of the needs in our communities, the MSDI- Arkansas Design Work Groups will facilitate roundtable discussions, on these and other topics: reducing alcohol and drug abuse; rural entrepreneurship; improving the quality of high school education; how the local foods movement is building healthy vibrant communities; strategies for addressing racism and classism in the Delta; promoting home ownership; creating good role models for youth and support systems for broken families; and how sustainable agriculture can lead to a rural renaissance. In addition to the roundtable discussions, those who are not otherwise engaged can participate in discussions about various aspects of public policy in Arkansas or share their views in a conversation about the multifaceted ‘Culture of Possibilities’ in the Delta.

The MSDI-Arkansas Design Work Groups have invited 300 Delta citizens, per venue, to participate in these conversations.

For more information on MSDI or the Design Work Groups visit www.msdi.org.