Time is fast approaching for the 30th Annual Mississippi Delta Blues and Heritage Festival and its accompanying annual convening - The Delta Dialogue.  MACE began the Dialogue three years ago, in conjunction with The National Rural Funders Collaborative (NRFC) and several regional partners to coincide with the annual Blues Festival. The Dialogue now occurs several times a year and provides the opportunity for regional planning and problem solving. With the theme, “Building Voice, Wealth and Culture in the Delta Region,” the Delta Dialogue brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders who are committed to leadership development, economic opportunity, and heritage preservation and promotion for low-income Delta communities and their residents.

Last year, the formation of the Mississippi Legislative Revitalization Task Force and their findings, from months of hearings, was the focus of the September 2006 conversation.  These findings offered for the first time, a set of recommendations that pointed toward a true partnership between the legislative sector and CBOs in the area. This year’s Dialogue will build on that effort and will concentrate on creating an implementation strategy for Task Force recommendations. The day long discussion, “When Sectors Talk,” will begin with a Thursday evening host event- “A Jazz Tribute to the Blues”.

A preliminary agenda and a registration form can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.   Please return the registration form ASAP as we will need a head count for refreshments and lunch. If you need additional information please contact Ms. Wendy Gibson at 662-335-3523 or e-mail at mace03@bellsouth.net.