The Delta Center Newsletter
 
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
 
It has been quite a year so far here at The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University. Through our work with the International Delta Blues Project, the National Endowment for the Humanities "Most Southern Place on Earth" workshops, and the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, we have been busy fulfilling our mission of promoting greater understanding of Mississippi Delta culture and history and its significance to the world. We do this through education, partnerships, and community engagement - organizational values and actions that our diverse programs embody in various ways.
 
This newsletter provides updates about the many exciting opportunities that The Delta Center's programs have been maximizing to connect, promote, and empower people, places, and institutions throughout the Mississippi Delta region. Our vision for The Delta Center to be a convener, facilitator, and knowledge resource continues to grow stronger. 
 
We look forward to continuing to serve as an educational and cultural hub in and for the Mississippi Delta region. In addition to reading this newsletter, to keep up with our work, we invite you to "like" The Delta Center's Facebook page, as well as Facebook pages for the International Delta Blues Project and the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area.
 
Enjoy this latest edition of The Delta Center Newsletter, and please reach out to us if you believe that we can work together to promote and celebrate the nationally significant culture of the Mississippi Delta. 



Rolando Herts, Ph.D.
Director, The Delta Center for Culture and Learning
Commitment to Delta studies continues  through the prism of the Blues
In 2014 Delta State University was awarded a significant grant from the Hearin Foundation to develop the International Delta Blues Project, a three-tiered program featuring the International Conference on the Blues, a Blues Leadership Incubator, and a  Blues studies program.

Since fall 2015, undergraduates enrolled at Delta State have been able to declare
  a minor in Blues Studies . The International Blues Scholars Program, a twelve-hour online summer certificate track, launched during June 2016 with students from around the country.
The Delta Center is proud to be the home for the International Delta Blues Project, and in May we launched a new website for it. Visit the site to keep up to date with what is happening, and please give us a call if we can answer any questions for you.

Want to hear more about the program? Watch this Fireside Chat from February.

Want to participate in the 2016 International Conference on the Blues? 
Most Southern Place on Earth


The Delta Center is thrilled to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities once again to present the  "Most Southern Place on Earth" workshop . For seven years, the Delta Center has hosted June and July workshops for over 70 K-12 educators from around the country, engaging them in an educational and cultural immersion experience in and about the Mississippi Delta.

Our first workshop began Sunday, June 18. Check out our blog to see highlights from the workshop sessions.



MDNHA Updates
New Logo, New Board Members, New Projects
The Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area has a new logo!

We are excited to share our new logo, which is based on traditional folk art painted signs found frequently around the Mississippi Delta. Our new logo reflects the Mississippi River, honors the rich artistry of the region, and is a bold celebratory expression of the Mississippi Delta's unique culture. Spoiler alert: Notice the homage to legendary Bluesman Robert Johnson in the "T" representing the Crossroads. That is one of our favorite aspects of the logo!

Our new website will launch in August. We are excited to share that soon as well.

Also, the MDNHA Passport Program has three new stations: GRAMMY Museum Mississippi and Cleveland Tourism in Cleveland, plus the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale.


The Delta Center serves as the management entity for the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, which encompasses the 18 counties comprising the region.




The MDNHA board met in May to welcome new members and discuss projects and plans . New board members include Dr. Charles McAdams representing Delta State University and Bill Allen of Belzoni representing Delta Council. Dr. Myrtis Tabb, a Governor's appointee to the board, is the new chair. 

The MDNHA thanks Dr. John Hilpert, past chair, and Frank Howell of Delta Council for their years of service to the organization.
Curious about where to go in the Delta?
Look Who Visited The Delta Center



For more information on The Delta Center for Culture and Learning, please visit our website at   http://deltacenterforcultureandlearning.com/
 and for more information on the MS Delta National Heritage Area, please visit  www.msdeltaheritage.com

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