Mid South Delta Leaders Program Now Accepting Applications

The Mid South Delta Leadership program (MSDL) is building a network of diverse leaders who will help work across economic, social, and racial divides to shape policies and strategies for education and economic development in the Delta Region in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. MSDL is currently accepting applications for its third class. Applications can be downloaded at www.msdi.org/leadership, and they are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2006.

The program helps participants gain a better understanding of national and global trends in terms of how these trends influence the quality of life and economic and community development in the Delta. This program has a tri-state regional mission that brings together a diverse group of citizens to enhance the quality of life through human resource development, community development, and economic development.

MSDL consists of three, 18-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 issue-based teams.

Forty-five class members, 15 from each state, participate in a curriculum that is designed to improve the leadership, management and communication skills of its participants. Class members of MSDL represent a wide variety of sectors, including higher education, K-12 education, government, non-profit, for-profit businesses, self-employment and community volunteers. This, in turn, ensures the inclusion of stakeholders; particularly those traditionally under-represented in community and economic development efforts.

This program is a partnership between Delta State University, serving as the lead partner and fiscal agent; the Arkansas State University Center for Regional and Community Development in Jonesboro, Arkansas; and, Grambling State University in Louisiana with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

For more information, contact Montesi at 662-846-4336, Delta State University, P.O. Box to 3304, Cleveland, MS 38733, cmontesi@deltastate.edu.