With a potential 10 years of grant money to be invested in Leflore County, Communities of Opportunity needs a responsible body to be held accountable and reflect the opinions of the people, says Beverly Divers-White, director of COO.
After a year and a half of meetings, the Foundation for the Mid South's COO created a 40-member county council in March to address this issue.
Twelve communities were represented on this council; Berclair, Colony Town, Morgan City, Quito, Schlater, Sidon, Swiftown, Money, Minter City, Browning, Itta Bena and Greenwood.
Berclair and Colony Town were later represented by neighboring towns and dropped off the list. The council now consists of 34 members.
Of those members, there are 17 black females, eight white females, six black males and three white males.
White said the makeup of the body is not necessarily a determinant of COO's outcome.The council is 73 percent female and and 67 percent black.
"The decision-making process is based on input from other sectors, and implementation will involve other sectors," she said.
White explained that the council runs on what the county wants. "They will become an oversight committee."
Members of the council will be consulting elected officials, clergy and business leaders in the community. A majority of the leaders in those sectors are men, said White.
The council finished its first job after seven weeks of closed meetings. Their 34-page community plans was submitted to the Foundation for the Mid South on May 20.
Serving on the council for Minter City is Levern Zachary-Harris. She has two grown children and lives with her husband, Robert, who is a state trooper.
Harris, 50, has worked 14 years as a social worker for Leflore County schools.
With constant exposure to the troubled side of Leflore County, Harris has seen enough to create her agenda. It starts with the children, she says.
"They are the future, accept it or not. Taking care of them is very important."
Working on the county council has not always been easy.
"The first night or two we had to break down some barriers. Of course in Leflore County, there is a black and white issue. But we talked it out. We discussed what we want the foundation to do," Harris said.
With a house 24 miles from Greenwood, it's not always easy to make it to late-night meetings, she said. With constant work on proposals and focus areas, it's not uncommon for the community council to meet twice a week.
"Sometimes I'll be leaving at 9:30 at night, and it takes a toll on me," said Harris.
"Minter City chose me to be their representative. Any task I take I try to do my best. If I didn't feel I could do it, I wouldn't take it."
Harris was unsure at first about the sincerity of COO.
"I was like, here we go again; lots of ideas, lots of talking. Nothing ever comes out of it. I have since changed my mind," she said.
A native of Minter City, she wants to be sure that the small towns are equally represented. If this money is for Leflore County, everyone should get their fair share, said Harris.
In her opinion, Greenwood and Itta Bena should receive more money because both are larger towns. But distribution of grant money should be fair in all respects.
"It seems like the small towns always get left out. I am most definitely going to fight for Minter City," said Harris.
After the focus areas are submitted June 2, the council will take a two-week break.
Foundation for the Mid South officials estimate grant money to arrive in Leflore County by September. In the interim, the council will begin creating bylaws and goals.
The council will also work on defining its legal nature by deciding whether or not to incorporate.
Assuming the council meets the benchmarks it will create, grant money from the Walton Family Foundation will continue in three year increments for 10 years.
Dana Garrard Dees, a representative of Schlater, says it can be daunting to consider that.
"It's a little scary to to think of a 10-year commitment, but I think that the council is up to the task," said Dees.
"It's not always been fun. It's been stressful and tiring. But the people on this council have the good of Leflore County on their heart," Dees said.
She has been encouraged by the bonds created among the council. "I've met a lot of people I wouldn't have met before. I think we are successfully healing racial division."
With the focus areas still due Thursday, Dees said she has not had time to think of how the council will govern itself.
Beautification is high on her priority list for her new hometown of Schlater. Dees, 37, moved to Schlater three years ago after she married her husband, Mark Dees.
As Life Help children's services coordinator, Dees is enthusiastic about having grant money to help children. She said that a partnership with Communities in Schools is a great idea.
"There are too many kids in Schlater looking to make their own excitement. There's nothing to do out here," said Dees.
Lloyd Porchia of Itta Bena has seen programs like COO before.
"I was a little skeptical at first. These groups come in with a lot of proposals and ideas. I thought it was one of those things were you get involved and not a whole lot comes out of it," said Porchia.
According to Porchia, 66, COO has more community involvement which makes it stronger.
Porchia, a retired professor from Mississippi Valley State University, said COO creates an edge for the children growing up in Itta Bena and Leflore County.
"It will be very beneficial for this generation. It's my hope for my grandchildren to get some activities in this place."
Among the subjects he taught at Valley was statistical quality control. The premise of this class was to enter data into a computer program and chart the outcome.
Porchia feels the right pieces are in place to move COO forward. "I think we are moving forward with some things that will hopefully improve the community."
