The Walton Family Foundation has launched a new effort to support the development and prosperity of the Delta region of Arkansas and Mississippi, which will focus on education and youth engagement, economic asset building for individuals and families as well as high-impact coalition building.
As part of Strategy 2025, the foundation’s five-year commitment, this initiative will aid in tackling tough social and environmental problems with urgency as a long-term approach to expanding access to opportunity. The plan, which is anchored in community-driven change, aims to make sure residents have equitable access to resources and opportunities to achieve their goals.
“Every community is different, and so are the challenges they face. Which is why following local leadership and vision is critical,” says Annie Proietti, the Walton Family Foundation board chair. “We recognize that building a vibrant, equitable Delta won’t happen by going it alone. Realizing this vision means joining with partners and supporting one another toward shared goals.”
By laying the groundwork for a new generation of success, The Foundation will invest in the educator workforce, unlocking college and career pathways while improving access to educational options. Emphasizing on closing the inequities in the region, the Foundation will also look to innovate, providing residents with resources needed to build financial security.
Part of the drive for upward mobility is offering workforce development and career training, strengthening small businesses. Finally, the Foundation will build coalitions of local, regional and national partners in developing the next generation of community leaders, achieving greater equity and opportunity in the area.
With a long-standing track record of working to advance opportunities in the Delta, the foundation has worked with the communities of Phillips County, Arkansas, and Coahoma County, Mississippi. The new strategy will expand its effort to also include Jefferson County, Arkansas.
Abe Hudson, recruited as a local, will serve as a program officer focused on the Delta region. Clarksdale is Hudson’s current home, but he will spend time facilitating new partnerships across the whole region. Formally, Hudson was a Mississippi state representative and worked with Delta State University as a visiting professor in the College of Business and Aviation. Hudson has also served as a program director at the Debt Education for Business Transformation and Sustainability Program.
To learn more about Strategy 2025, or other efforts brought forth by the Walton Family Foundation, visit its website.
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