Folks, recently I had a chance to get back down to one of our target states, Mississippi!

Meeting our partners where they are, and seeing their work in action, is a crucial part of our efforts to help them grow healthy, expansive organizations that can mobilize their communities for progress.

Before we share some highlights from our visit to the Magnolia State, can you chip in $10 to support our efforts? Any amount helps. Now, onto the photos!

This trip, we focused on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, a gorgeous stretch of the state with a rich civil rights legacy that persists to this day. We spent an afternoon with Jonathan Green and Gordon Jackson from Steps Coalition, a member of the Groundwork Organizer Network, to check out the location where their hopeful community development projects will take place.

They also showed us this mural commissioned by their organization to commemorate the wade-ins that led to the desegregation of Biloxi Beach.

We visited Tyrone's Barber and Beauty Salon, which has been a staple of the Biloxi community for 61 years. It was a pleasure to speak with the owners and some local civil rights heroes who played a part in desegregating Biloxi Beach.

We stopped by Ms. Audrey's Southern Kitchen and Catering in Gulfport. We were joined by NAACP President Derrick Johnson, civic leader Corey Wiggins, and a number of community members for a delicious meal and good conversation.

Finally, we got coffee with Mississippi Rep. Jeramey Anderson, who represents District 110 in the State House. When he was elected over a decade ago, he was the youngest Black representative to be elected anywhere in the country.

As you can see, this grassroots team’s support makes it possible for us to come together and build a coalition that spans state borders.

Especially during an election year, these efforts will make a real difference to ensure our partners are best equipped to continue making progress. Will you chip in $10 now so that we can support our partners across our target regions?

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Thank you,

Joe