The Delta’s future depends on the viability of education, key speakers said at the Greenwood Voters League annual banquet.
Topics at Friday’s event included the future of the state, the future of Mississippi Valley State University and the future of Delta children.
“There is nothing more important that we can do for our children than to ensure they stay in school,” said one speaker, Mississippi Supreme Court Justice James Graves Jr.
He explained that most of the people that he had sentenced to jail were there because of a lack of education. He said it was rare to meet someone in prison with a college degree.
“The bottom line is that I want them in school,” Graves said. “I want them in (pre-school), elementary school, middle school, high school, and then I want to see them at Valley.”
Graves also applauded the work of the Greenwood Voters League in securing a better future for the people of the Delta.
“Until every child in America can receive a quality education, we need a Greenwood Voters League,” he said.
He said all citizens must exercise their right to vote.
“We can all be citizens, but to be a voter it takes action,” Graves said. “There is no individual more powerful than a voter.”
Dr. Donna H. Oliver, president of Mississippi Valley State University, thanked the league for “making democracy work, right here in Greenwood-Leflore.”
Oliver discussed the recent trouble Valley has had and its significance in the Delta. Gov. Haley Barbour has proposed merging it with Alcorn State and Jackson State universities.
“Despite talks about mergers, closures and drastically cut budgets, we want to remain an independent, viable university,” Oliver said.
Oliver said the talks of merger have very quickly become the “bane of our existence” at Valley. However, she told the crowd that it was important to remain faithful and resolute. She said even if the chatter about merger or closure of Valley went away, there is still concern about Valley’s budget in the next few years.
“This administration is dedicated to be responsible and responsive to the state’s fiscal challenge,” she said.
She said the Delta and Mississippi need the Valley, and “if we didn’t have a Valley, we’d have to invent one.”
She said it would be obvious that they would not be able to continue many of the programs that they are running today. She encouraged the crowd to make pledges to assist Valley.
The following awards also were presented at the banquet:
- Ruby Stanton — 2009 Greenwood Voters’ League Community Service Award
- Octavia Cox — 2009 David L. Jordan Scholarship
- The Rev. Valmadge Towner, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church — 2009 Pastor of the Year
