The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Delta Conference Agenda, Jan. 30-31, 2008--Latest Draft

Posted on January 12, 2008 at 01:20 PM

Annual Conference, January 30-31, 2008

“The Economic Future of the Greater Delta Region”

Little Rock, Arkansas

Agenda

This conference is dedicated to the memory of the late Doug Sullivan, a senior aide to Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi and a champion for the Delta.

THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT-CHANGES MAY STILL OCCUR

OPENING SESSION

4:45 P.M. TO 8:15 P.M., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

LITTLE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MAIN SESSION

9 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M., THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008

GREAT HALL OF THE CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

OPENING SESSION

4:45 P.M. TO 8: 15 P.M., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2008

LITTLE ROCK REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Reception: 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

OPENING SPEAKERS, 5:45 to 6:40

VITAL ISSUES FOR THE DELTA’S FUTURE

Introduction–Lee Powell, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus

  1. Joe Belden, associate director, national Housing Assistance Council, Washington, DC-the housing crisis and its impact on the Delta

  2. Heifer International speaker

  3. TENTATIVE–Attorney General Dustin McDaniel will speak either at this session or at some point during the conference

  4. Steve Southard, Nucor Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel of Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas-model for creating jobs through environmentally sound practices

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE DELTA–6:40 to 8:15 p.m.

  1. Moderator and speaker, Rex Nelson, Alternate Federal Co-Chair, Delta Regional Authority

  2. Mayor Mike Marshall, Sikeston, Missouri

  3. Minnie Bommer, community development expert and long-time Delta regional leader, Covington, Tennessee

  4. Clifton Avant, Entergy, Louisiana

  5. Larry Williams, Delta Citizens Alliance, Greenville, Mississippi

  6. Mayor Brad Cole, Carbondale, Illinois

MAIN SESSION

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008, 9 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M.

GREAT HALL OF THE WILLIAM J. CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

9 A.M. TO 9:45 A.M.

GOVERNOR MIKE BEEBE OF ARKANSAS–Remarks on key Delta regional issues

FORUM FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES-

9:45 A.M. THROUGH LUNCHEON TO 1 P.M.

The major campaigns will be asked to state what they would do to promote economic development in the Delta if elected president. The Delta Grassroots Caucus will not endorse any candidate and just seeks to promote a thoughtful, nonpartisan debate about how to promote a brighter economic future for this vast, impoverished region of America’s heartland.

PANEL OF QUESTIONERS Lee Powell, executive director, Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus

Leon Bramlett, Field Representative for north Mississippi for Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi

Ronald White or Rhonda Sanders, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

Sen. Jack Crumbly, Superintendent of the Earle School District

John Greer, Jr., CEO, Mississippi Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance (MDEZA)

9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.- BOB NASH, SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON;S DEPUTY CAMPAIGN MANAGER, former Director of White House Personnel and former USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development in the Clinton administration

10:30 A.M. TO 11:15 A.M.- FRENCH HILL, GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE’S FINANCE CHAIR, former White House economic adviser and US Dept. of Treasury official for the first President George H.W. Bush

11:15 TO NOON-Senator Barack Obama representative (TBD)

Invited–Gov. Mitt Romney spokesperson

NOON TO 1:15 P.M.- Senator John McCain representative-presidential spokesperson

THE HON. RODNEY SLATER-Remarks about the Future of the Delta

1:15 P.M. TO 2:45 P.M.

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPING A WELL-EDUCATED AND WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE

  1. President Randy J. Dunn, Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky

  2. President Les Wyatt, Arkansas State University

  3. Bob Swenson, Southern Illinois University

  4. Tiffany Hardrick, Prinicipal of a new charter school in New Orleans, Louisiana serving low-income neighborhoods devastated by Hurricane Katrina

  5. Mayor Bobby Hardrick, Madison, Arkansas

  6. Sanford Johnson, Graduate student at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, a native of Starkville, MS, graduate of Auburn University, taught at Helena’s KIPP school and after graduation plans to live in Clarksdale, MS where he taught with Teach for America.

2:45 TO 4:10 P.M.

JOB CREATION INITIATIVES

  1. Mayor Sheldon Day, Thomasville, Alabama

  2. Alan McVey, Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development

  3. Dennis Roedemeier, Southeast Missouri State University

  4. Patrick Powell-Murray State University, western Kentucky

  5. Invited–Obabiah Simmons-Grambling State University, Louisiana

LEAD SPONSOR

Nucor Yamato Steel and Nucor Steel of Arkansas, Blytheville, Arkansas

MAJOR CO-SPONSORS

City of Sikeston, Missouri

Entergy Corporation

Inspire Hope Institute

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (state organizations of Mississippi and Arkansas, and headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia)

The City of Little Rock, Arkansas

Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

SPONSORS

Delta Citizens Alliance, Greenville, Mississippi

First State Bank and Trust, Caruthersville, Missouri

Great River Economic Development Foundation, Blytheville, Arkansas

Mississippi County Economic Opportunity Commission, Mississippi County, Arkansas

G.A. Wildman, Alabama

Desha County Judge Mark McElroy

Chicot County Judge Fred Zieman

Associated Electric Cooperative, Missouri

Writing our World Press, Jonesboro, Arkansas (headed by former White House aide and author Janis Kearney)

Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center, East Prairie, Missouri

Municipal League of Arkansas

Mid-South Community College, West Memphis, Arkansas