CLARKSDALE, MISS. – July 2025 – Individuals from across the United States who are passionate about the future of the Delta gathered in Clarksdale, Mississippi, for a two-day Delta Regional Forum at the historic Cutrer Mansion. Hosted by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi and the Delta Directions Consortium, and facilitated by Delta Directions Fellow Sophie Hathaway, the forum brought together nonprofit leaders, researchers, students, policymakers, and community advocates to explore challenges and opportunities across the Delta region.
This year’s forum featured engaging panels presented by Delta Scholars and a new Next Generation Leaders cohort, covering a broad range of topics relevant to the long-term wellbeing of Delta communities. Participants shared innovative strategies, research findings, and community-based solutions to some of the region’s most pressing issues. There was also a Community Resource Fair where community members and students learned about ongoing initiatives providing solutions to current needs across the region.
Delta Scholars
Managed by Program Director Eleanor Green of Mississippi State University, the Delta Scholars program elevates undergraduate students committed to community-driven solutions. This year’s cohort addressed topics from food insecurity and education to environmental health and property rights.
2025 Delta Scholars and their project titles included:
- Bianca Hemsath, University of Mississippi – Drinking Water Quality and Household Health Outcomes
- Rowan Feasel, Mississippi State University – AI Literacy in the Age of AI: Using AI as a Tool in Mississippi’s Classrooms
- Anna Claire Carter, University of Mississippi – The Ones Who Stayed: Voices from the Arkansas Delta
- Zayd Elhedoudy, Rutgers University – Environmental Health in the Delta: Attitudes, Behaviors, and Knowledge
- Allie Wall, Copiah-Lincoln Community College & Mississippi State University – From Classrooms to Corrections: Interrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline
- Anne Marie Sullivan, Mississippi State University – Superman Strong: Helping Low Birthweight Babies Gain Strength
- Naiya Fort, Alcorn State University – Addressing Food Insecurity Among Aging Adults: The Role and Impact of Community Food Pantries
- Spencer Lile, Mississippi State University – Rare Diseases in the Delta
- Kayle Amos, University of Mississippi – Regulating Local Markets: A Policy and Legal Guide for Mississippi Food Systems – Mississippi Farmers Market Toolkit 2025 Legal & Business Update
- John Robert Walker, Yale University – Awareness of Heirs’ Property in the Southeast: A Multivariate Analysis of Demographic and Geographic Disparities
- Saige Kenner, Southern University and A&M College – Strengthening Rural Communities for Better Health: Community Capitals Framework & Asset-Based Community Development Approach
Next Generation Leaders Cohort
Thanks to support from the Walton Family Foundation, the forum launched its inaugural Next Generation Leaders track, spotlighting early-career professionals already working in nonprofits, foundations, and local governments throughout the Delta. Facilitated by Delta Fellow Sophie Hathaway, these presenters shared real-world perspectives and actionable strategies from their work on the ground.
2025 Next Generation Leaders and their affiliations:
- Colin Kern, DeSoto Dream Center
- Danielle Watson, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service
- Adam Nathan, Spirit Hill Farm
- Chiquikta Fountain, Delta Hands for Hope
- Stephanie Webb, Quitman County Visitor Welcome Center
- Ryan Betz, Farm to School Network
- Chelesa Presley, Diaper Bank of the Delta
- Mayukh Datta, Braeden Foldenauer, and Ryan Hopson, MS Feeding the Future
The Delta Regional Forum continues to serve as a catalyst for regional collaboration, equity-focused solutions, and leadership development. By investing in both students and young professionals, the forum fosters a cross-sector network dedicated to building a stronger, healthier, and more resilient Delta.
For more information or to get involved in future initiatives, visit www.cfnm.org or follow along at linktr.ee/cfnm2002.
About Delta Directions:
The Delta Directions Consortium (DDC) is an interdisciplinary network of individuals, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and foundations that work together to create positive social change in the multi-state Mississippi Delta Region. In addition to numerous broad programs and specific projects that evolve as needs and interests change, DDC partners collaborate on four long-term signature initiatives: Mississippi Delta Project, Mississippi Delta Partnership in Public Health, Delta Scholars Program, and the Delta Regional Forum.
About CFNM:
The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi was established in 2002 as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a generous grant from the Maddox Foundation. With offices in Hernando and Clarksdale, the Foundation manages 314 donor-established funds and over $50 million in total assets. Ranked among the top grantmaking foundations in the region, it has distributed more than $48 million to support over 1,000 charitable causes. Serving Bolivar, Coahoma, DeSoto, Leflore, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Yalobusha counties, the Foundation is governed by a Board of 22 volunteer leaders from across these 12 counties. For more information and ways to stay connected with the Foundation, visit linktr.ee/cfnm2002.