FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 8, 2008
Contact: Anika Mitchell Perkins
(662) 329-7124
aperkins@pa.muw.edu

MUW Center for Creative Learning appropriated $300,000 for new
initiative

COLUMBUS, Miss. - The Roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning at
Mississippi University for Women was recently appropriated $300,000 for
a new initiative to increase the involvement of the community in
education.

U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran said, "I am pleased to support this funding for
the Center for Creative Learning at MUW. It will help enrich the
learning experience of the students and enhance the quality of teaching
at the Center."

Community Partnerships for Learning will bring together community-based
organizations, schools, parents, non-profit organization, business and
industry in activities to promote learning. These organizations will
form a coalition that will serve as advocates for education in the
Golden Triangle.

The program will provide onsite workforce training to low-wage
employees, coalition-sponsored community events, a lending library of
resource materials and equipment and web-based resources. It will be a
model for other communities in Mississippi and throughout the United
States.

MUW President Claudia A. Limbert, said, “We are very grateful for
this support. Increasing the connections between communities,
business/industry, government and non-profit educational agencies will
ultimately advance economic development and improve the standard of
living for all citizens.”

Funded by a congressionally-directed grant, the Center is named after
Congressman Roger F. Wicker, who was very instrumental in helping MUW to secure monies to establish it.

It was established in 2004 to provide research, service and learning
opportunities for children, K-12 teachers and adults in communities
around the state and beyond. More than 60 school districts and 40
counties in Mississippi have benefited from programs and services
through the center.