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 RSVP for First Large-Scale Delta Conference Since Pandemic Hit, on Nov. 18-19, 2021 in Little Rock

Posted on June 30, 2021 at 12:33 PM

The first large-scale, in-person Delta conference since the pandemic hit is set for Nov. 18-19, 2021 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Space is limited so please RSVP and register by paying the registration fees as soon as possible.

The fastest and easiest way to register is to go to the website at mdgc.us and go to the PayPal link that says “Donate,” and pay the $100 registration fees.

If you can get a group of three or four people to register together we will give a group discount down to $60 each.

The opening session is at the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda, Thursday evening, Nov. 18, 2021 from 5 p.m. to about 6:50 p.m.

The Friday session is at the Clinton Library Great Hall on Friday morning and lunch, Nov. 19, 2021 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

An accurate head count is essential for planning purposes and we need to avoid logjams caused by having almost everyone register and RSVP at the last minute.

Speakers: We will be inviting grassroots leaders from the 8-state Delta Region, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Members of Congress, Biden administration officials and other concerned citizens to advocate for community and economic development in the region. We have started work on the agenda and will keep you posted as specifics are finalized.

Key issues will be job creation and retention at good wages, transportation, broadband access for underserved areas, housing and other infrastructure investments to generate jobs and repair our deteriorating infrastructure, health care for underserved populations as we recover from the pandemic, support for SNAP, school meals, WIC and other nutrition programs, Delta heritage tourism, diversity, education and workforce development, and related Delta regional subjects.

Diversity at the DRA: We support the Delta Regional Authority as an institution. We are working on the current issue of a lack of diversity at the senior state as well as federal levels, because 10 of the 11 senior state officials appointed by the governors are white and all six Presidential appointees as Federal Co-Chairman and Alternate Federal Co-Chairman in the DRA’s history have been white males. We need diversity in this agency representing a region with a large African American population, a relatively small but growing Hispanic population and other minorities.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson did respond very quickly with the appointment of a well-qualified African American woman, Ateca Foreman, to DRA Alternate for Arkansas. We have contacted the Biden administration and are continuing to have dialogues with the other seven governors. We believe we are slowly but surely making some progress and hope to have made much more progress well before the Nov. 18-19 conference and can report on that improvement at that time. If progress has not been made by then we will respond accordingly.

Please contact the governor’s office from your state and/or the Biden administration White House Office of Presidential Personnel and ask them to appoint African Americans, women and otherwise consider diversity in making appointments to the DRA.

REGISTRATION

You register by paying the $100 registration fees, if you have not already done so.

If you can get a group of three or four or more people to register together, we will give a group discount down to $60 each.

The fastest and easiest way to pay the registration fees is to go to the website at mdgc.us 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 address in the Washington, DC area:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

GROUP HOTEL

If you need a hotel, we have a group discount at the Holiday Inn Presidential near the Clinton Library. To get the discount at $99, please call the hotel at (501) 375-2100 and say you are with the Delta Caucus group.

We have a limited number of rooms for the main night of Nov. 18.

The cut-off date to get the group rate is Nov. 1, although with the limited number the rooms may get filled up well before then so please call in your reservation as soon as you can.

Most people check out of the hotel on the morning of Nov. 19, go to the morning and lunch session that day and then head back home that afternoon or early evening.

If anyone would like to stay on Nov. 19 we have a very small number of rooms that night.

The hotel has a restaurant and is a short drive to the Arkansas Capitol and Clinton Library.

Thanks very much. Lee Powell, Executive Director, Delta Grassroots Caucus (202) 360-6347