Jackson, MS – On Friday, the Mississippi Association of Educators will award Southern Echo, Inc. the MAE Human and Civil Rights Award in Educational Service for its time-honored commitment to empowering African Americans by working to eliminate racial disparities, bolster economic development and close the educational achievement gap in Mississippi. The annual award is presented to non-profit organizations and community groups, outside the education profession, that contribute to the “improvement of relations within the public school community for persons within their local community or area.” Southern Echo will accept the award during the annual MAE Human and Civil Rights Scholarship Award Banquet this Friday.
This occasion marks the second time this week Southern Echo is being recognized for its outstanding leadership and commitment to improving education for African Americans in Mississippi. On Tuesday, President Obama’s White House selected Southern Echo’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Joyce Parker, as a “Champion of Change” for her commitment to educational excellence for African Americans. The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future Initiative that recognizes outstanding Americans committed to empowering their communities through grassroots efforts.
Joyce Parker is Chair of the Board of Directors of Southern Echo, Inc and is the founder and Director of Concerned Citizens for a Better Greenville, a grassroots organizing group in the largest city in the Mississippi Delta. Her work has focused on public education and civic engagement and the organization actively involves young people together with older people in the training process and the organizing work.
“We here at Southern Echo are grateful for the honors,” said Chairwoman Parker. “We hope the recognitions allow us to continue doing grassroots work that empowers our communities and inspire others to join us in reshaping better institutions for our children to grow and learn.”
Southern Echo is a leadership development, education and training organization working to develop effective accountable grassroots leadership in the African-American communities in rural Mississippi and the surrounding region.
