FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ebonee Johnikin
Foundation for the Mid South
(601) 319-3888
[email protected]
Jackson, Miss. – The Foundation for the Mid South (FMS), in partnership with Mississippi Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) and with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, has announced the launch of The Delta Story Project, a new cultural ambassador initiative designed to elevate the voices, stories, and creative talent of the Mississippi Delta and Jackson.
The Delta Story Project will support 4–6 cultural professionals whose work highlights the beauty, complexity, and lived experiences of communities across the region. Selected Cultural Ambassadors will receive awards ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 to produce a public-facing storytelling project rooted in the Mississippi Delta or Jackson.
The program will distribute up to $45,000 in funding to artists and storytellers working in disciplines such as journalism, documentary film, photography, podcasting, visual arts, and multimedia storytelling.
“The Mississippi Delta and Jackson are home to powerful stories, extraordinary creativity, and generations of cultural influence,” said Gregory Johnson, President and CEO of the Foundation for the Mid South. “Through the Delta Story Project, we are investing in storytellers who can help illuminate the richness of this region and contribute to a broader narrative about the people, culture, and potential of Mississippi.”
The initiative is part of Mississippi’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) efforts, which seek to advance narrative change, community connection, and a more complete understanding of the region’s history and future.
Selected Cultural Ambassadors will participate in a six-month cohort from June through December 2026, during which they will develop a storytelling project aligned with the program’s goals of cultural visibility, truth-telling, and community impact.
Projects may include documentary work, narrative journalism, visual storytelling, audio storytelling, photography, or other creative formats that capture the voices, experiences, and cultural identity of the Mississippi Delta and Jackson.
The program will culminate with a public showcase during the National Day of Racial Healing in January 2027, where the completed works will be presented to the public as part of a broader celebration of storytelling, culture, and community dialogue.
Applications for the Delta Story Project opened March 3, 2026, and will remain open through April 13, 2026.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Reside in, or demonstrate strong professional connection to, the Mississippi Delta or Jackson
- Work in a storytelling or cultural discipline such as journalism, filmmaking, photography, podcasting, visual art, or multimedia storytelling
- Propose a public-facing project that highlights the people, culture, or communities of the region
Artists, storytellers, and cultural professionals interested in applying can learn more and submit applications at:
About the Foundation for the Mid South
The Foundation for the Mid South works to improve communities and expand opportunity across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Through strategic investments, partnerships, and community engagement, the Foundation supports initiatives that strengthen education, economic opportunity, and healthy communities throughout the Mid South.
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