Delta Center Receives Grant from Deer Creek Foundation

Lee Aylward, program associate for education and community outreach for the Delta Center for Culture and Learning, holds a check from the Deer Creek Foundation.

The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University recently received a check for $25,000 from the Deer Creek Foundation.  The funding is in support of the Center’s role as the manager of the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area during the planning phase.  The Heritage Area links the Delta to the National Park Service and will stimulate interest in the Delta’s rich heritage as it promotes tourism and economic development.  For information about how you can become a partner with the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, contact the Delta Center at 662-846-4311.

Delta Center recognized as “Best Practice Leader”

Dr. Luther Brown (fourth from left), director of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning, at the Best Practices panel discussion

Governor Haley Barbour recently commissioned the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Arts Commission to produce a study of the creative economy in Mississippi. The report, prepared with assistance from Regional Technologies, Inc, was released during a day-long symposium on August 10 at the Jackson Convention Center. Numerous presentations provided information on the value of the creative economy, along with examples of how the creative economy helps build communities and provide jobs. The event ended with a "Best Practices Panel" that featured the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University.  

The Delta Center is involved in the Mississippi Blues Trail, the new Mississippi Freedom Trail, and the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, and other projects. The Delta Center was one of five "Best Practice Leaders" that were featured at the symposium. The others included Mississippi State University’s music program, the Fondren District renovation in Jackson, the Cities of Oxford and Bay St. Louis, and the Mississippi School of the Arts. These entities, and several others, are also featured in the published report. The complete creative economy report is published on-line at http://www.mscreativeeconomy.com.

Delta State’s Delta Center continues to distribute books to promote literacy

Bright Beginnings: From left-right, Beverly McWilliams, with Bright Beginnings and librarian at Parks Elementary, Robert Smart, Rosedale Elementary, and Lee Aylward, Delta State Delta Center for Culture and Learning.

The Delta State University Delta Center for Culture and Learning continues to distribute books that have been collected by the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA), an international group of volunteers. 

This week’s recipients included Parks Elementary School in Cleveland and the Rosedale Elementary School, as well as students in the Delta State Child Development Center. 

Delta State Child Development Center: From left-right, Brenda Dumas, teacher, Samantha Blake, Sherrod Cauthen, Kate McClain, Cash Miller, and Elizabeth Gray Havens students in the four year-old class look over some of the donated books.

The Harry Potter Alliance was founded by Andrew Slack, who first came to the Delta as a students from Brandeis University and was introduced to the Delta’s heritage by the Delta Center for Culture and learning.  HPA was recently awarded $250,000 by the Chase Bank Community Giving Challenge, and online competition that selected the most popular new charity organization. The money will allow them to build further capacity to do good deeds around the world.