Grant to train Delta leaders

Regional agency awards $109,492 to STAND Foundation

Chris Masingill, co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, is congratulated by STAND administrator E. LaJuan Bedford after signing an intent to proceed for the investment of more than $109,000 Wednesday to the STAND Foundation.
Chris Masingill, co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, is congratulated by STAND administrator E. LaJuan Bedford after signing an intent to proceed for the investment of more than $109,000 Wednesday to the STAND Foundation.

The Delta Regional Authority has awarded more than $100,000 to an Arkansas foundation to train and develop leaders among Delta residents.

The STAND Foundation will receive $109,492 for its Delta Leadership Project, which together with higher education institutions and other organizations will provide leadership training, skill development and community service, officials announced Wednesday at Philander Smith College.

The foundation has graduated more than 300 students in its Edward Coleman Leadership Program to date. The grant will mark the first time the foundation will receive financial backing to specifically target the Arkansas Delta.

“We have individuals in their own communities who have gone back and taken what they have learned through the STAND Foundation leadership program and applied it to their everyday life,” said Kasey Summerville, the foundation’s president. “We know that the best investment we will ever make is in human capital.”

The grant will allow the foundation to recruit up to 30 participants from Arkansas Northeastern College in Mississippi County, Southeast Arkansas Community College in Union County, Southern Arkansas University Tech in Ouachita County and Mid-South Community College in Crittenden County.

Recruiters will go into universities and other public entities such as the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/ Adams Field, and businesses such as Goodwill to encourage lower- to upper-management to take the classes, foundation program administrator La Juan Bedford said. Once at least 30 people sign up, the foundation will host the training once a month for five months.

Students will have various tasks during the classes and, at the end, will present an idea for a community service project, Bedford said, adding that students don’t have to actually undertake the project. The training is very interactive, she said, and in between the fullday class, students will receive Internet drills.

Many graduates have gone on to hold or run for political office or start nonprofits, she said. The classes have inspired some to go back to college and even led to job promotions, she said.

The foundation has a proven track record for success, said Chris Masingill, the federal co-chairman of the regional authority. The authority is a congressionally mandated partnership between federal and state governments to help create jobs, build communities and improve lives in the Delta.

“We know that to be competitive in the 21st century global economy, you’ve got to continue to invest in leaders,” he said. “Great leaders make great employees, great employers and community servants.”

The region has “a lot of challenges,” Masingill said.

“The only way we’re going to accomplish the kind of goals that we have, build the kind of people that we want, have the kind of employees and future generation of entrepreneurs and small business leaders is to create that leadership right now,” he said.

Masingill signed the notice to proceed at the announcement event Wednesday, giving the foundation the go-ahead to start spending the grant money.

The foundation began in 2007 under former state Sen. Tracy Steele, who said he wanted to be able to share the knowledge he learned throughout the years, along with his experiences, with other ambitious professionals.

“I couldn’t be more proud of how [the foundation officials] have taken this forward to another level,” Steele said, adding that he always knew the need extended past central Arkansas.

The regional authority’s board designee for Gov. Mike Beebe, Steve Jones, said he was glad to see the foundation use its resources for the Delta.

“It’s that region where we grow a whole lot more than cotton, soybeans, wheat, rice,” he said. “We grow leaders.”

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 02/20/2014

Upcoming Events