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Budget information is crucial for informed decision-making and progress in early childhood education. The Early Childhood Education Budget book is a tool for Mississippi policymakers, educators and stakeholders to help them understand and evaluate the allocation of resources for our children.
Welcome to Mississippi. A state rich in culture and tradition. A place where civil rights activists still courageously carry the mantle for just and equitable policies. A community continually reckoning with its history of slavery and the modern-day impacts.
William Faulkner once said, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” This Deep South state holds some of the widest racial disparities, a consequence of historical policies and racialized systems that still perpetuate inequities in pay, access to care and opportunities to work.
However, at WKKF, we see Mississippi as a beacon of light in the South.
In Grand Rapids, we concentrate our investments on bringing inclusive growth and equitable access to opportunity in:
Our approach to racial equity and community engagement is grounded in supporting the work and leadership of people of color. We emphasize building power within their communities to create more equitable systems, structures and narrative change.
Good food helps children grow up healthy and strong, fuels brain power and gets kids ready to learn. Good food practices protect and respect the natural environment.
Good food comes from community – from farmers, markets, grocers, schools and other institutions that work together to ensure children and families can access the nutrition they need.
Yet children and families of color in low-income communities face significant barriers in their access to good food, while discriminatory policies limit access to resources for small farmers, community farmers and entrepreneurs of color across the food system.
We support efforts to address these challenges and transform food systems to better serve communities, farmers, workers, businesses, families, children and our natural environment.
Approaches vary by location, as we listen to communities to identify needed solutions and strategies.