MSDI Lifting up the Delta

The soft, fertile Delta land has long been a source of prosperity, allowing crops to grow and flourish, bringing wealth to farmers and agriculture partners. Situated along the alluvial plains of the Mississippi River, small and large cities, dot the landscape of 55 contiguous counties in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi known as the Delta. These cities play host to the 29 public, private, community, or technical college or university located throughout the entire region; the dozens of state-of-the-art hospitals and small clinics; restaurants serving authentic Delta dishes derived from the distinct culture of the region; and of course the music that still fills local and worldwide airwaves from the blues and gospel to country and bluegrass. World travelers visit the region daily, exploring the mysteries of this land, embracing the music, culture, and essence of the people. They see a land filled with great prosperity, but still struggling to reach its full potential. These dynamic elements permeate the region known as the Delta.

Lifting up the Delta is the slogan used to describe the effort behind the collaboration toward change, growth, and rebirth for the region. Children once seen as vulnerable or troubled become educated, skilled adults who remain in the region building new entrepreneurial enterprises and partnerships. Tourists become residents, starting families and enrolling their own children in Delta schools that are now successfully employing new techniques to improve student achievement. The past begins to connect to the present and new horizon abounds, one filled with promise and innovation. Lifting up the Delta leads to better lives for those who visit and decide to stay, those leave but return to their homes, and those who will always call the region home. Welcome to glimpses of the process called Lifting up the Delta.