Inside this issue: “A MESSAGE FROM THE CENTER” SENATOR PEGGY R. WRIGHT BUMPERS SPEAKS AT DELTA 2 The Center continues efforts to review and GRASSROOTS revise our Mission within the parameters of the educational CAUCUS goals of the Department of Criminology, Sociology and CONFERENCE Geography. Our efforts persist as well as to raise external funds to support our central administrative functions. Major IMPACT OF NEW challenges remain on this front! CONGRESS ON 3 DELTA ISSUES With the recent changes in Congress interest and focus on key issues affecting us all in the Delta continues to TOURISM, CIVIL grow. In this respect, several of the Delta Studies Center’s RIGHTS AND partnerships and collaborations are bearing fruit. None, 4 DIVERSITY PANEL however, more than our endeavors in support of the Lower Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus (hereafter, Caucus) and DISCUSSION its Director, Lee Powell. ECONOMIC Similarly, as our recent Caucus gathering in DEVELOPMENT Little Rock illustrated, at the state government level the PANEL 5 potential for support grows as well. With new governors like DISCUSSION Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe there will be continued, yet new life and direction in terms of representation and involve- RODNEY SLATER ment in the Delta Regional Authority. Consequently, our SPEAKS AT DELTA region-wide efforts constitute a major focal point of this issue. GRASSROOTS 6 In this issue, our coverage demonstrates that the CAUCUS Lower Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus and similar LUNCHEON initiatives must aggressively voice their support for efforts in the Delta. Central themes of civic engagement in public GOVERNOR MIKE policy and citizen participation in government stand-out in the BEEBE MAIN following articles. LUNCHEON In this issue as those in the past, I commend the SPEAKER AT 7 invaluable, unseen, unsung assistance of Ms. Christine Perry GRASSROOTS in support of this newsletter and the Center’s work in general. CAUCUS As Director of the Center, I continue to believe that our work CONFERENCE will continue to generate support and, in the long run, attract SENATOR HATTIE funding in recognition of our valuable efforts on behalf of this 8 University and the Delta Region. CARAWAY DAY I am extremely optimistic as we approach our CROSSROADS 8 upcoming legislative visit to Washington DC, May 8-10, 2007 BANQUET that change and new opportunities are forthcoming. We will WOMEN’S of course in our next issue highlight this event as well as 9 others throughout the region. SYMPOSIUM JAJUAN JOHNSON MAKES STRIDES 10 MISSISSIPPI DELTA GRASSROOTS IN ORAL HISTORY CAUCUS MEETING S-TAC AND ASU-DSC JOIN On January 18-19, 2007, over 300 people TOGETHER TO DO 10 attended the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus second ORAL HISTORY annual conference in Little Rock. This years meeting focused on these important Delta issues: New ASU-DSC Congress on Delta Regional Issues, Tourism, Civil Rights DEDICATES ORAL and Diversity, Economic Development, Education Developing HISTORY EXHIBIT a Well-Educated, Well-Trained Workforce and Poverty and TO THE LATE 11 Hunger. SENATOR JERRY BOOKOUT If you would like more information on this conference and other things discussed in this edition of the newsletter, NEWLY RELEASED 11 please send email at [email protected] call at (870) 972-2325 REPORT or 1-800-731-3020. DELTA GRASSROOTS CAUCUS CONFERENCE SENATOR BUMPERS On Thursday, January would go on to develop the 18th, the Delta Caucus Ozark Regional Commission Conference opened it’s annual that covered parts of Arkansas, meeting with a keynote Mississippi and Louisiana. address from former Senator Through his role as Dale Bumpers. Senator he would sit on Bumpers discussed his Appropriation Committees years in both positions as where he worked to help Senator Dale Bumpers Governor and Senator for the people with their educational Photo by: Christine Perry State of Arkansas. needs, with food, with healthcare, with housing and He commented that “in with jobs. He also developed 1970, I decided to run for the legislation for what would “But we as Americans need to Governor and I was stunned as become known as the Lower I crossed a lot of Arkansas that Mississippi River Delta realize that “ignorance, poverty, I’d never seen...Twenty-five Commission. crime, in that sequence, is so years after World War II how pervasive poverty still persisted The reality of all of this, unnecessary for a nation this in so much of this state. There according to Senator powerful and as wealthy as we are.” were shacks. I can remember Bumpers, is that you “cannot shacks on both sides of the throw a little money at a big highways from here to problem.” But we as Memphis.“ Americans need to realize that “ignorance, poverty, crime, in He was shocked that that sequence, is so several years after WWII unnecessary for a nation this Arkansas was still facing powerful as wealthy as we significant challenges. He are.” had believed that “we were over the depression and that He closed his speech by this state was so much better reminding everyone of how than that. And I was shocked important their work is and how we were all so poor.” inspiring it is to him to still see so many people fighting for the Mississippi Grassroots Caucus This realization speared Conference - Opening Session rights and well-being of others. Photo by: Christine Perry him into the political arena. And in the end we are all “here Bumpers wanted to give back tonight because we’re to the community what was committed to the principles that given to him when he returned we talked about here. And I’m back from the War. He wanted committed to them. And I’m to improve the lives of many not a Senator anymore so I Arkansans especially those in don’t have the kind of power I the Delta. once had but I have some. So Bumpers would work to call me. “ do that in both his capacity as Mississippi Grassroots Caucus Governor and as Senator for Conference - Opening Session Photo by: Christine Perry the State of Arkansas. He PagePage 2 Volume 9, Issue 1 ASU-Delta Studies Center 2 DELTA GRASSROOTS CAUCUS CONFERENCE IMPACT OF THE NEW CONGRESS ON DELTA ISSUES Thursday night the (D-AR), Steve Patterson. Delta Caucus Conference featured a panel on the impact Mr. Patterson said that of the new Congress on Delta those in Lincoln’s office are “very hopeful that in the 2008 Regional Issues. funding cycle that we’ll be able The panel was to increase significantly funding moderated by Rex Nelson, for the DRA particularly if we’re Federal Co-Chair of the Delta able to show through your Regional Authority and testament some of the success L/R Rex Nelson, Delta Regional Authority, consisted of panelists: Doug stories that have already John Brummett, Columnist, Stephens News Bureau, Steve Patterson, Former Chief of Staff to Senator Sullivan, Senior Aide to occurred.” Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Doug Sullivan, Senior Aide to Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS); Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Larry Fugate, He also discussed the Editor, Pine Bluff Commercial Steve Patterson, former Chief Photo by: Christine Perry of Staff to Senator Blanche new bill that Senator Lincoln is Lincoln (D-AR); John going to reintroduce in Democratic Congress to affect Brummett, Columnist, congress that deals with any sort of change without any Stephens News Bureau; and “health insurance coverage kind of cohesion that is simply Larry Fugate, Editor of the Pine through small businesses. not going to happen. At best, Particularly in the Delta Region Bluff Commercial. we’re going to get about a small businesses make up the hundred hours worth of work Doug Sullivan spoke largest employers in Arkansas out of them and I think we’ve first. Mr. Sullivan stated that and I’m sure in some of the just got it.” “your organization the other Delta States.” Mississippi Delta Grassroots The final speaker for the Caucus, ya’ll support economic The third panelist to night was Pine Bluff development and we’ve heard discuss this issue was John Commercial Editor John it so many times tonight and of Brummett. He stated that the Fugates. He agreed with Mr. course we know Senator way he “see things but our Brummett on what is ahead of Cochran also supports the assigned topic is how do we the Congress. Fugate said he same programs that ya’ll access the impact on the Delta felt it would be “more of the support and he…and you can and the Regional Authority of same unfortunately and I agree the new Congress. And I am expect him in this Congress to with John on that.” going to give you how I access support those programs.” the impact negligible.” The problems that One of the most Fugate did see, however, dealt important issues facing this His reason for saying with workforce training and new congress, according to Mr. this is that while “we have a healthcare. He stated that he Sullivan, is the new farm bill. partisan change in the didn’t “see any breakthrough in Sullivan felt that this new farm Congress first of all it is by an healthcare unless something bill is “going to be really extraordinarily small margin. happens that I really don’t There’s no consensus existing important when it comes to the anticipate.” Delta.” for particular change or a new direction.” But overall Mr. Fugate Next to speak to the does still see “hope in the three hundred plus caucus Brummett ended his Delta. There’s hope in people. group was the former Chief of comments by suggesting that There’s hope here.” once you get “all of this Staff to Senator Lincoln together and you expect the ASU-Delta Studies Center Volume 9, Issue 1 Page 3 DELTA GRASSROOTS CAUCUS CONFERENCE TOURISM, CIVIL RIGHTS, AND DIVERSITY artifacts and activities that indicate it’s inception in 1991.