Regional Project Partners
Universities
Tuskegee University - Tuskegee University is widely recognized for its distinctive strengths in professional, scientific and technical higher education. The University's mission calls for an education that also strengthens community outreach. Of special interest to Tuskegee University is the development of surrounding areas, including at least 12 counties in south central Alabama, continued leadership in networking and outreach for program and policy initiatives in the rural South on the basis of its land-grant mission and historical commitment. Dr. Ntam Baharanyi is the Principal Investigator of the Gulf Coast Regional Asset Building project. Website: http://www.tuskegee.edu/Global/category.asp?C=128334
Washington University at St. Louis, Center for Social Development (CSD) at The Brown School of Social Work. CSD is a leading academic center of theory and research on asset-building strategies for low-income, low-asset populations. Few institutional structures for wealth accumulation are available to the poor. CSD is focused on developing savings and asset accumulation mechanisms that are inclusive of the whole population. Central to this work has been the design and testing of assisted savings plans in the form of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) and Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs). CSD is engaged in a large-scale demonstration of a universal, progressive CSA policy. The underlying vision of the asset building program is of an expanding economic pie, wherein all members of society can achieve greater personal wealth and contribute to greater economic productivity in the nation. Gena Gunn, Project Director is staff providing technical assistance and guidance on this project. Website: http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/csd/policy/index1.htm
Florida A & M University, (FAMU) Tallahassee, FL- is a member of a nine-member consortium of historically Black Universities and other 1890 land grant universities which created the Southern Foods System and Education Consortium (SOFSEC), a project funded by the Kellogg Foundation to build partnerships with community-based organizations for a community-based perspective on addressing persistent poverty in the South. FAMU's community partner is Florida Family Network (FFN). The SOFSEC-CBO grassroots partnership leads to specific federal legislative efforts. The Southern Empowerment and Economic Development (SEED) Act was introduced in the 108 Congress to form the Delta Black Belt Regional Authority (DBBRA). Although the legislative efforts were not totally successful, the partnerships, and grassroots movement continues to thrive in hope of dismantling poverty in the Black Belt states.
FAMU continues its community connection and grassroots work through its partnership with Florida Family Network in the efforts of asset building. The lead staff from FAMU is Dr. Dreamal Worthen. Website: http://www.famu.edu/index.cfm
Regional Community-Based Organizations
Alabama - The Arise Citizens' Policy Project is an educational and research organization working on issues that impact low-and moderate-income Alabamians. ACPP was established in 1994 as a 501 (c)(3) sister organization to Alabama Arise, a 501 (c) (4) entity that focuses on lobbying activities to benefit the same population group. ACPP is a statewide coalition of 155 congregations of community groups and some 1,400 individual representing much of the state's racial, economic, religious and geographic diversity. ACPP members are united in their belief that low-income people are suffering because of state policy decisions. Through ACPP, groups and individuals join together to promote state policies that improve the lives of low-income Alabamians. The organization is governed by a twenty-one member board of directors, at least half of whom must be representatives of low-income groups. The staff includes community organizers working across Alabama to inform communities of public policy decisions that impact families and individuals, and who bring concerns and issues of low- and moderate- income Alabamians to the table for review and discussion. A team of policy analysts provide clear, credible and accessible analysis of public policy issues and develops strategies to address identified concerns and deficiencies.
Florida - The Florida Family Network, Inc. (FFN) - FFN was established in 2003 as a 501(c) (3) community-based organization connected with a number of diverse organizations across the state to streamline their efforts into one coalition, bridging gaps of services and resources to unify into one coalition to unify efforts, resources and services towards one common cause to impacts assets pre/post natural disasters. FFN's purpose is to advocate, educate and promote self-sufficiency among families by strengthening the family foundation. FFN efforts are directed towards reducing the disparity among broken families, and single-headed families through collaboration among diverse disciplines and interagency (juvenile justice, education, economic self-sufficiency, domestic violence and corrections) to build and support networks that legitimizes restorative practices as a way to engage and empower children, young people, families and communities.
Louisiana - Federation of Southern Cooperatives - (FSC) The Federation in its forty year history has successfully provided self-help economic opportunities and hope for many low-income communities across the South. FSC/LAF is, in fact, the only organization in the southeast United States whose primary objectives the retention of black owned land and the use of cooperatives for land-based economic development. The three major themes of the Federation's mission, work and accomplishments over the years are:
- To develop cooperatives and credit unions as a means for people to enhance the quality of their lives and improve their communities;
- To save, protect and expand the landholdings of the Black family farmers in the South;
- To develop, advocate and support public policies to benefit its membership of Black and other family farmers and low income rural communities.
The extended membership of the FSC/LAF includes 12,000 Black farm families, who individually own small acreage, but collectively own over half a million acres of land and work through 35 agricultural cooperatives to purchase supplies, provide technical assistance, and market their crops. It also includes 10,000 small savers in 19 community development credit unions that have accumulated over $5 million in savings and made over $52 million in loans since their inception.
Mississippi - Mississippi Association of Cooperatives - (MAC) Established in 1972 as an affiliate of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund (1967). A nonprofit organization, MAC serves farmers, their families and communities in increasing their livelihood security and improving quality of life. Building from a tradition steeped in the Civil Rights Movement, MAC provides technical assistance and advocates for the needs of its members in the areas of cooperative development and networking, sustainable production, marketing and community food security. MAC is the parent organization of the Mississippi Center for Cooperative Development.
MAC includes ten cooperatives, two credit unions and two associated organizations. These community-based groups are located across the state. Those involved in agriculture utilize diverse production and marketing strategies. Popular crops include watermelon, southern peas, okra, leafy greens and sweet potatoes, among others. Member organizations market their goods through a wide variety of avenues such as direct sales, farmers markets, grocery stores and food distributors/food service providers.
Regional Organization Partners
Black Belt Action Network - The Black Belt Action Network (BBAN) is a coalition that is comprised of community people, community activists, scholars and scholar-activists from the Black Belt/Delta South. The BBAN focuses on highlighting the networks by scholars and activists working in partnerships with others at, and from HBCUs and CBOs in Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina, as well as from selected scholars of color at the University of Kentucky, Georgia College and State University, etc. Recent efforts have included informing academia about the need to be activists in combating poverty in the southern Black Belt, developing concept papers for Black Belt Regional Studies program, and advise the regional Black Belt coalition on opportunities and the needs to institutionalize educational programs that focus on the region.