The Future We Are Building: Inside the Foundation for the Mid South’s 2025 to 2030 Strategic Plan
The Foundation for the Mid South recently gathered its leadership to unveil a new blueprint for the region. The webinar, titled “The Future We Are Building,” was presented as more than a routine announcement. Instead, it carried the tone of a pivotal moment for a region that has long carried the weight of deep and persistent inequities. “We […]
Culture Is the Work: Building a Mission-Aligned Workplace at FMS
After more than two decades of working at the Foundation for the Mid South, I’ve come to understand that culture isn’t just about the events we plan, the policies we write, or the goals we set; it’s about how we show up for one another day after day. I’ve had the unique opportunity to serve […]
A New Era for the Mid South: Inside the Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Celebration and the Future Taking Shape
Guests paused as they stepped into the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium at the Two Mississippi Museums, taking in the teal light, the music rising from Stevie J’s guitar, and the warm buzz of conversations unfolding across the room. One attendee smiled as she looked around and said, “This already feels special.” It was the Foundation […]
The Weight We Carry: Mississippi’s Health Crisis Is Rooted in Systems, Not Personal Choices
Mississippi’s health challenges are often framed as individual struggles. Eat better. Exercise more. Manage your stress. But for many families across the state, these messages ring hollow. They do not address the lack of access to care, the weight of chronic stress, the gaps in postpartum coverage, or the environments that make healthy living almost […]
Foundation for the Mid South Marks 35 Years of Regional Impact and Unveils Strategic Vision for the Future
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 Contact: Ebonee Johnikin, Communications Director Foundation for the Mid South [email protected] | 601-319-3888 Celebration at the Two Mississippi Museums honors Dr. Ivye Allen and introduces a five-year plan for advancing opportunity across the Mid South JACKSON, Miss. – The Foundation for the Mid South (FMS) celebrated 35 […]
Bridging the Gap: Why We Must Invest More in Middle School Education
By George Stewart, Education Program Officer, Foundation for the Mid South The Critical Role of Middle School Middle school represents a vital juncture in a child’s educational journey, serving as the bridge between the foundational years of elementary education and the more specialized focus of high school. As an education program officer based in Jackson, […]
Raising the Bar for Mississippi’s Students
By Ebonee Johnikin, Communications Director, Foundation for the Mid South In Coahoma County, a teacher might be rewarded with something as simple as a free drink at a local restaurant. It’s part of the Big Apple Campaign—a grassroots effort to remind educators that their work matters in a region where vacancies number in the hundreds […]
Racial Healing Is More Than a Moment: Reflections from the Field
By Derykah Watts, Social Justice Coordinator, Foundation for the Mid South The world feels more divided than ever along lines of race, religion, and politics. Watching the news can be overwhelming. Most evenings, I make myself sit through a one-hour broadcast, and by the end, I’m drained and wondering why I even bother keeping a […]
Moving Mississippians Forward: Jobs, Dreams, and Second Chances in Jackson and the Delta
By Ebonee Johnikin, Communications Director, Foundation for the Mid South Jackson and the Mississippi Delta are no strangers to tough odds. Generations of families have weathered poverty, limited job opportunities, and a stubborn lack of resources. But this fall, the Foundation for the Mid South (FMS) is putting serious muscle behind a new effort to […]
Foundation for the Mid South Awards $550,000 to 11 Organizations to Move Mississippians Forward Through Employment
Jackson, MS – September 15, 2025 – The Foundation for the Mid South (FMS) announced today it has awarded $550,000 to 11 community organizations across Mississippi as part of its Moving Mississippians Forward Through Employment Initiative. The initiative is supported by the Foundation for the Mid South and funded through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Workforce […]