The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Please RSVP for Delta Caucus Conference at Clinton Center in Little Rock on May 25-26, 2023

Posted on March 08, 2023 at 12:40 PM

Delta Grassroots Caucus

Contact: Lee Powell, Director, (202) 360-6347; or by email at LeePowell@delta.comcastbiz.net

“Please RSVP for the Delta Regional Conference, May 25-26, 2023 in Little Rock

Please RSVP for the Delta Caucus Regional Conference set for May 25-26, 2023. You RSVP to Lee Powell’s email or phone above.

Registration, schedule, group hotel and other information are below in this message.

The Delta Caucus Regional Conference main session is set for Friday morning and lunch, May 26, 2023 at the Clinton Library Great Hall in Little Rock from about 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The opening evening session will be on Thursday May 25, 2023 from about 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in central Little Rock (site TBD, possibly the Arkansas Capitol Rotunda, but they don’t reserve space this far ahead of time).

SPEAKERS AND ISSUES:

We will invite Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Bill Clinton, Members of the Arkansas Congressional delegation, state and local elected officials, nonprofits, community-minded business leaders, and professionals in health care, education and workforce development, transportation, job creation, USDA and DRA programs, and other community and economic development issues in the 8-state Greater Delta.

Of course, most partners do not confirm this far ahead of time. To give a general idea of the make-up of the group from people who have sent in RSVPs thus far, we will mention the following (of course, there are always some last-minute changes when people have unexpected issues with their schedules):

–Mayor Marco McClendon of West Memphis, Arkansas;

–Mayor Jaylen Smith of Earle, AR (at 18 years of age we believe he is the youngest mayor in the USA;

–Harvey Joe Sanner, American Ag Movement of Arkansas;

–We believe we will have a representative from Arkansas State University, possibly Chancellor Todd Shields or another senior official from ASU;

–Kyle Miller, Executive Director of the Delta Cultural Center based in Helena;

–Ben Burkett, State Director for Mississippi of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives;

–Wilson Golden, former Clinton administration Presidential appointee, one of the four managers of President Clinton’s Delta Regional Initiative, native of Mississippi now based in Georgia;

–Herbert Simmons, professor at Grambling State University and executive director of the Greater North Louisiana Community Development Corp.;

–Janice Simmons of Greater North Louisiana CDC;

–Mahandra Singh, former head of the Dept. of Criminal Justice at Grambling State University;

–Marcie Lawson, President/CEO, Sikeston Missouri Regional Chamber and Economic Development Corp.;

–Mike Marshall, Sikeston, Missouri, former Alternate Federal Co-Chairman, Delta Regional Authority;

–Heather Collier, Communications Manager, Southeast Missouri Food Bank;

–INVITED– Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, University of Kentucky;

–INVITED–a speaker for the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University

–Appreciation for Billy McFarland and his colleagues at SmithMack LLC based in Birmingham Alabama for a generous Major Co-Sponsorship. Billy has been one of our stalwart leaders from Alabama for many years now.

–Appreciation for generous Sponsorship contribution from AvanTech Services LLC based in Marion, Arkansas.

We have invited many others and will continue to do so as we put the agenda together.

Information on schedule, registration fees, and likely group hotel are below.

REGISTRATION FEES

You register by paying the $100 registration fees.

GROUP DISCOUNT ON FEES:

If you can get a group of three or more people together we will discount it to $40 each.

For a group of five or more we will discount it to $30 each.

The fastest and easiest way to pay the fees is to go the website at www.mdgc.us and click on the link that says “Donate.”

If you prefer to pay by check, please make out the check to “Delta Caucus” and mail to our office in the Washington, DC area:

Delta Caucus

5030 Purslane Place

Waldorf, MD 20601

SCHEDULE

OPENING SESSION: 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening, May 25, 2023 (site TBD, at either the Arkansas State Capitol Rotunda or another central Little Rock location)

MAIN SESSION: 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday morning and lunch, May 26, 2023, at Clinton Library Great Hall

Opening evening informal networking session: We have an informal networking session at the group hotel lobby and bar where they serve food and drinks, right after the opening session from about 6:50 p.m. to 8 p.m.

GROUP HOTEL

The group hotel is Comfort Inn & Suites Presidential.

To get the group rate of $129 call the hotel at (501) 687-7700 and say you are with the Delta Caucus.

Most people check in to the hotel in the afternoon of Thursday May 25, the opening session, Then they check out in the morning of Friday, May 26, go to the main session and are on their way back home starting early Friday afternoon.

We look forward to convening after absences due to the pandemic. We will take whatever precautions are necessary depending on what the situation is with the various Covid strains on May 25-26, 2023. Look forward to seeing everybody then.

Thanks–Lee Powell, Delta Caucus (202) 360-6347