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.

Please Register for Nov. 18-19 Delta Conference by Zoom--Agenda and Key Issues, Oct. 12, 2021

Posted on October 12, 2021 at 11:03 AM

Please RSVP and pay registration fees for the Nov. 18-19, 2021 Greater Delta Region Conference on community and economic development issues for the 8-state region from southern Missouri and Illinois to New Orleans and eastward to the Alabama Black Belt.

You register by paying the registration fees, and registration information is below in this message.

Caucus Director Lee Powell contact information is: Phone: (202) 360-6347 E-mail: LeePowell@delta.comcastbiz.net

This is primarily by Zoom due to the pandemic. We remain concerned, of course, about the Coronavirus situation, and for those attending in person both the Delta Caucus and the Clinton Library require wearing masks, being vaccinated with proof of vaccination, and social distancing.

OPENING SESSION: Thursday evening, Nov. 18 from 4:50 p.m. to about 6:50 p.m., strictly by Zoom

FRIDAY SESSION: Friday morning and lunch, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m., by Zoom (with also a small group in-person broadcasting by Zoom from the Clinton Library Great Hall)

Due to concerns about the pandemic, there will NOT be any in-person gathering at the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda on Thursday evening Nov. 18.

(INVITED) We are inviting former President Bill Clinton, US Sen. John Boozman, Rep. French Hill, former US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater (originally from Marianna), and a high-level Arkansas state economic development official.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. KEY ISSUES

II. REGISTRATION

III. DRAFT OF AGENDA

IV. This is mostly by Zoom, but for a small group who are traveling, we have a group hotel

The Friday morning and lunch session on Nov. 19 will also be primarily by Zoom, although again there will be a small group gathered at the Clinton Library wearing masks, vaccinated, and practicing social distancing

We have nonprofits, community-minded business leaders, universities and colleges, grassroots groups and other concerned citizens for the annual Little Rock Conference. We plan a Washington, DC conference for the late spring of 2022.

I. Key issues will include maintaining community and economic progress during the pandemic;

–increasing vaccination levels and other health care concern for underserved populations during the pandemic;

–supporting strong funding for USDA nutrition, rural development and other programs;

–strong funding for the Delta Regional Authority;

–fair, equitable concerns for redistricting across the region so that the Delta will have districts concentrated into similar areas with traditional regional characteristics such as high levels of diversity, lower-income populations, more small-town and rural areas, and in many cases strong agricultural production.

REGISTRATION FEES

Registration fees have been cut in half from $100 to $50 due to stresses caused by the pandemic.

You register by paying the $50 registration fees.

The fastest and easiest way to register is to go on the website and go to the PayPal link at the top of the site that says “Donate.”

If you prefer to pay by check, please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to our office in the Washington, DC area:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, Maryland 20601

ROUGH PRELIMINARY DRAFT OF AGENDA

OPENING SESSION, NOV. 18:

Thursday evening, Nov. 18, 2021, 4:50 p.m. to about 6:50 p.m., by Zoom

“Education and Workforce Development”

4:50 p.m.–Introduction—Lee Powell, Delta Caucus Director

5 to 5:15 p.m.–Professor Charity Smith, Philander Smith College (PSC), introduced by Philander Smith Vice President Charles King

5:15 to 5:22 p.m.–Philander Smith student leader and 2021 Carol Willis Scholar (TBD)

5:22 to 5:30 p.m.—Callie Dunavin, Arkansas State University—Mid-South, Associate Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Strategic Initiatives

5:30 to 5:38 p.m.—Lynn Anderson Lindberg, Southern Illinois University, Interim Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Economic Development

5:38—5:48 p.m.—Al Cross, Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky

5;50 P.M. to 6 P.M.—Alan Gumbel, veteran Delta regional advocate and community leader based in Memphis, Tennessee

6 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.—Millie Atkins, veteran Delta regional advocate based in Monroe, Louisiana

FRIDAY NOV. 19 SESSION:

Friday morning and lunch, Nov. 19, 2021, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., primarily by Zoom with a small group at the Clinton Library Great Hall

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.–Hunger and Economic Inequality Issues in the Delta during the Pandemic

Kathy Webb, Executive Director, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance

Rev. Preston Clegg, Pastor of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, on the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s philanthropic work in Helena/Phillips County Arkansas

Keith Fulcher, President, Community Foundation for Northwest Mississippi

Dorothy Grady-Scarbrough, Executive Director, Mississippians Engaged in Agriculture (MEGA

Bo Ryall, Executive Director, Arkansas Hospitals Association

Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America

TBD Invitations for PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, CONGRESSMAN FRENCH HILL SENATOR JOHN BOOZMAN HON. RODNEY SLATER, former US Secretary of Transportation, Partner, Patton Boggs firm Senior economic development official from Arkansas state government (invited)

At whatever points on the program they can work this into their unusually busy schedules.

10:30 a.m.—10:50 a.m. Best Practices in Community and Economic Development

10:30 to 10:38 a.m.—Shannon Newton, Executive Director, Arkansas Trucking Association, on transportation infrastructure issues

10:38 to 10:50—Sheila Smith and Billy McFarland, nonprofit TS Police Support League based in Eutaw, Alabama in the Alabama Black Belt

10:50 to 1:15 p.m.—Big Picture Speakers on Delta’s Community and Economic Progress

Mike Marshall, CEO, Sikeston, Missouri Regional Chamber and Economic Development Corp., former Alternate Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority

Wilson Golden, former executive at Xerox corp. and distinguished attorney, Clinton administration appointee at US Dept. of Transportation and one of the four senior managers of President Clinton’s Delta Regional Initiative

Lee Powell, Delta Caucus Executive Director, Clinton administration appointee at USDA and one of senior managers of the Delta Regional Initiative (along with Wilson Golden, Harold Gist, and the late Al Eisenberg)

Harvey Joe Sanner, long-time Delta regional advocate, President, American Ag Movement of Arkansas

Rex Nelson, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette senior editor, former Alternate Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority

Annette Dove, Executive Director, TOPPS nonprofit in Pine Bluff, Arkansas area Two young social workers who work with Annette Dove for TOPPS in Pine Bluff

Mike Preston, Arkansas Secretary of Commerce and Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission

Noon to 12:45.

GROUP HOTEL

To get the group hotel discount rate of $99 for the night of Nov. 18 please call the Holiday Inn Presidential at (501) 375-2100 and tell them you are with the Delta Caucus group.