The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi has announced awards of $248,465 in grant funding, and ArtPlace Mississippi’s Delta Wild program is one of its recipients.
Delta Wild, a project begun in the summer of 2017 by artist-naturalist Robin Whitfield of Grenada, takes teen-agers out into nature at area wildlife management areas such as Malmaison, Tallahatchie and Mathews Brake, familiarizing them with wildlife, plant life and ecology and helping them appreciate the value of being in wild places.
This summer’s group of students built a primitive shelter at Malmaison and learned about kayaking, canoeing, camping and hiking, all to build confidence and to help them transform their lives.
Whitfield, the program director, has said she hopes to help kids get over their fear of the unknown and to understand that by being in nature, they are more directly connected to the world they live in. Additionally, young people more attuned to wild places might grow up more inclined to help protect them for future generations.
The Community Foundation has granted ArtPlace’s Delta Wild program $1,000.
The foundation raises these grant funds through charitable donations from individuals and partnerships with other private foundations.
Since 2002, the foundation, headquartered in Hernando, has awarded more than $20 million to 420 programs.
“Northwest Mississippi faces a myriad of difficult challenges,” said Joe Azar, chairman of the board of directors, in a prepared statement.
“It is our honor to partner with so many passionate and generous donors who want to make their hometowns a better place through charitable giving.”
ArtPlace is based in Greenwood. Its executive director, Sarah Iwanski, said the next session of Delta Wild will be a summer camp in 2019.
Whitfield and Iwanski have also been talking about expanding the program to include one- or two-day trips throughout the year, so that students can experience nature across the seasons.
Delta Wild is offered free to student participants. To learn more, visit the ArtPlace Mississippi web site at www.artplacems.org. To learn more about Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s grant programs and how to apply, visit www.cfnm.org.
•Contact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
