Stories

Economic Development

  • Jackie Jones: Vision for the Future

    Jacqueline Carroll Jones has more than 20 years of organizing experience with the Jeremiah Group and the Industrial Areas Foundation. Before becoming an organizer, Jones taught regular and special education classes in the Jefferson Parish public school system for 23 years. She also served as Intervention Coordinator for the parish’s only special education alternative high school program....

  • Ivan Parra: Early Orientation

    An experienced community organizer and trainer, Ivan Kohar Parra cofounded three organizations that engage hundreds of grassroots leaders in social change. He is cofounder of the Latino Credit Union, a member-owned non-profit financial institution offering a full package of ethical, bilingual financial services, affordable credit options and financial education to thousands of immigrants....

  • Cheryl Peterson: SEED's 5 Program Areas

    As Senior Managing Director of McIntosh SEED (Sustainable Environment and Economic Development), Cheryl Peterson provides technical assistance to organizations in youth leadership and development, community outreach and engagement, local and regional organizational development, and educational supervision and instruction. McIntosh SEED is a grassroots organization that fosters quality...

  • Shirley Sherrod: SWGAP Gets Radio Station

    Shirley and Charles Sherrod founded the Southwest Georgia Project for Community Education in 1961 to educate, engage and empower through advocacy and community organizing. SWGAP has successfully addressed school segregation, welfare rights, voter rights and education, housing, land loss, economic development and unfair policies affecting school children and families.

    After decades of...

  • Hollis Watkins: Music as an Organizing Tool

    A veteran of the civil rights movement, Hollis Watkins founded Southern Echo, a leadership development, education and training organization working to develop effective, accountable grassroots leadership in rural Mississippi and the surrounding region.

    Watkins and Southern Echo have been instrumental in challenging redistricting in Mississippi, protecting communities from landfills and...