In the Delta region of Mississippi and Arkansas, we’re proud to work with talented educators, entrepreneurs and young people who are determined to improve quality of life. Their optimism and resilience is helping the region confront its challenges and create new opportunities for all residents.
Meet some of the innovators who are changing education. These schools serve as powerful examples of what can be achieved for students when experience, vision and drive come together.
For Iowa farmer Mitchell Hora, cover crops hold the key to healthier, more resilient soil and higher corn and soybean yields even in years with heavy rains or drought.
Ben Lewis believes anything is possible through good coffee. At Meraki Roasting Company in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Ben is providing employment training to young adults working to break the cycle of poverty in the Mississippi Delta.
Anja Thiessen calls the Mississippi Delta region "a place of perseverance and grit and resilience." As co-director of Spring Initiative in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Anja works to "empower young people to beat the odds, access the opportunities they deserve, and build successful, hopeful, and happy lives."
Mark 'River' Peoples believes in the Mississippi River’s power to heal, teach and inspire. It's why the Clarksdale, Mississippi canoe guide shares the river with underserved youth in the Delta region of Mississippi and Arkansas.
Utah's Escalante River is a place of respite for outfitter Nathan Waggoner. “It really recharges the soul to be out on the river and fishing," Nathan says. "It's a nice, calming place to be." Nathan's appreciation for the Escalante's natural beauty drives his concern about the environmental threat posed by the invasive Russian olive tree, which overtakes native riparian species and alters water flow and temperature on the river.
