FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 20, 2006
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
$1 million grant to provide services for at-risk
youth
COLUMBUS, Miss. – A $1 million grant from the
Mississippi Department of Education Office of
Innovation and School Improvement will help at-risk
youth in Columbus and Lowndes County.
Mississippi University for Women will serve as the
lead institution for the Crossroads: A 21st Century
Community Learning Center Proposal, which will be
funded over five years, according to Dr. Suzanne
Bean, project director. Ivey Ivy will serve as the
on-site project manager.
MUW President Claudia A. Limbert said, “We are
thrilled about this proposal. The grant will enhance
the many services already being provided by these
organizations.”
The Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning at
MUW will join the resources and expertise of six
community partners to provide comprehensive
out-of-school services for academically at-risk
middle school students in the Columbus Municipal
School District. Project participants will be
selected from Lee Middle School in Columbus from
students who scored basic or minimal on the MCT.
After school services will take place at Lee Middle
School and the Boys and Girls Club.
For students who are unable to participate in the
after school portion of the project at Lee Middle
School because they have been sentenced to either
the Juvenile Detention Center or the Adolescent
Offender’s Program, services will be provided at the
Lowndes County Detention Center and at Community
Counseling.
The Columbus Arts Council is also partnering on the
project with its New Eyes, New Images program.
“I’m especially excited about this Crossroads
project because it involves six community agencies
working together to improve program and services for
at-risk youth,” said Bean, who is also director of
the Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning.
