OurTupelo

Talk more; proclaim less. 

It’s one of our mottos here at The Center for Practical Ethics (TCPE). To put another way, we might say our goal is to foster conversations rather than diatribes. This task is more difficult than most realize. What we know as ethicists is that merely having conversations isn’t enough. There’s a wide variety of skills needed for fruitful dialogue to take place, and some are harder to come by than others. 

The ideal conversation partner is curious and humble, able to actively listen, knowledgeable about his or her own positions, familiar with basic principles of logical argument, charitable when interpreting claims, and—most importantly—willing to be wrong. Our work centers around equipping students with these skills and helping them navigate the complex ethical issues within our society’s most contentious disagreements. 

This year, National Week of Conversations (NWoC) coincided with Ethics Week here at the University of Mississippi (UM). Many of our events are conversation-based because dialogue is the best way to evaluate the ideas of others and open ourselves up to new information and interpretation of facts, while gaining a better understanding of our own views. 

Two of our events in particular are worth examining more closely to see why NWoC and the work we do at TCPE are critical for sustaining civil society and the myriad public goods we all take for granted. First is our signature Just Conversations event. Students are placed in small groups and given a couple of ethical dilemmas to discuss. Trained student moderators guide the discussion to point out important aspects of the dilemmas, such as logical fallacies, analysis of stakeholders, ethical concepts and assumptions, and varying methods to achieve goals. Students often discover they agree with others—on the dilemma outcome and the details—far more than they expected.

Second, we have invited free speech scholar Sigal Ben-Porath to give a talk about her new book “Cancel Wars: How Universities Can Foster Free Speech, Promote Inclusion, and Renew Democracy”. Ben-Porath contends that universities are laboratories of democracy where students must learn to engage with disagreement. If the university is to be a place where truth is discovered, it must take seriously its historic social and educational obligation to train students in the skills needed for civil discourse and critical thinking. Her work is especially relevant in our ever more polarized times. 

What these events demonstrate is that conversations—that is, engaged and fruitful conversations—must take place at all levels. Students must learn to talk to students just as much as faculty must learn to talk to faculty and administrators to administrators. What’s more, these groups must talk to each other because while each of us have a role within academia (faculty, staff, student, dean, vice chancellor, etc.), we are also all citizens who work and live together.

Policies must be made, votes cast, businesses founded, churches attended, friendships established, and life lived. TCPE focuses on the skills of civil discourse by providing opportunities to cultivate those skills through Ethics Week, and highlights conversations that ask us to reflect on the role of universities as part of the NWoC. 

Join the conversation.

Join us at Noon on Friday, April 19 for a VIRTUAL lunch and learn session exploring tools to make us better listeners, and in turn, better equipped to engage in meaningful conversations across differences.

The session will be led by Dr. Graham Bodie, professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Media and Communication in the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi.

This event is free and open to the public. Register to receive more information.

REGISTER FOR FREE

The post At The Center for Practical Ethics, it’s all about dialogue – and the willingness to be wrong appeared first on Mississippi Today.

Hundreds of people rallied at the Mississippi Capitol for a second day Wednesday, urging lawmakers to expand Medicaid to provide health coverage for an estimated 200,000 Mississippians.

After faith leaders spoke at the Capitol on Tuesday, Care4Mississippi, a coalition of advocates, held a rally Wednesday. Speakers recounted their struggles with access to affordable health care in Mississippi and chanted for the Legislature to, “Close the coverage gap now,” and for “Full Medicaid expansion now.”

Stephanie Jenkins of McComb, a former social worker, lost her job and health insurance after a car wreck left her with debilitating injuries.

She said she later received some medical treatment from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, but still suffers from chronic pain and other ailments. She said she was told she could not receive Medicaid coverage because she owns too much property.

Jenkins said that years after her accident, “I’m still fighting that battle. I’m still trying to get health insurance. I am still trying to get Medicaid … The state of Mississippi does not realize that it is not about money. It is not about race. It is about people. People are dying because they have no health insurance.”

Dr. Randy Easterling, a Vicksburg family physician and former executive director of the Mississippi Medical Association, spoke in favor of Medicaid expansion. He said the people who would be helped by the expansion primarily work at jobs that do not provide health care and they do not earn enough to purchase private insurance. Many are small business owners.

Easterling said often times the insurance policies available through the federal marketplace exchange have out-of-pocket costs that make them unaffordable for working people if they get sick.

Easterling recounted a story of two of his friends diagnosed with similar cancers. One was uninsured and self-employed, and did not get early diagnosis or treatment. He’s now in hospice and on death’s door. The other friend, with insurance, received an early diagnosis and treatment and is now cancer free.

“This is a matter of life and death. It is certainly more than a political debate,” Easterling told the crowd.

But the issue of expanding Medicaid is currently engulfed in the political process of the Mississippi Legislature. The House has passed a bill to expand Medicaid as is allowed under federal law to cover those earning up to 138% of the federal poverty or about $20,000 annually for an individual. Under the House plan, the federal government would pay 90% of the health care costs and provide the state with almost $700 million more over the first two years as incentive to expand Medicaid as 40 other states have done.

READ MORE: Experts analyze House, Senate Medicaid expansion proposals, offer compromise plan

Under the Senate plan, coverage would be provided to working people earning less than 100% of the federal poverty level and the federal government would pay much less of the costs.

Studies indicate that the Senate plan would cost the state more and cover fewer people. At the rally, people wore yellow T-shirts that read, “close the coverage gap” and “leave no one behind.”

Easterling said that by refusing to expand Medicaid for the last 11 years, “This state has struck a match to $12 billion … and that money was earmarked specifically to increase access to health care.”

He added, “Two days ago most of us wrote a check to the IRS. Now explain to me in simple terms, I am pretty simple, why my (federal) tax money in Mississippi went to increase access to health care in 40 states and not any of it came back to Mississippi.”

“We take federal money right and left,” Easterling said. “We take hundreds of millions of federal dollars for highways, education, the Health Department, law enforcement and natural disasters … But for some reason we push back on additional money for health care. I would submit to you this is a matter of life and death.”

Robin Y. Jackson, with the Mississippi Black Women’s Roudtable, told of dropping out of school to care for a family member. In the process she developed a chronic health problem. She said she was unable to get help, but later got a job with health insurance even though her employer knew she had costly medical maladies. After surgeries costing tens of thousands of dollars, she said she is finally well.

“I was lucky,” she said. Others are not so lucky. She said with Medicaid expansion everyone could receive the treatment she was lucky enough to receive.

She said as shepherds of Mississippians, politicians should strive “to leave no one behind.”

Sonya Williams Branes, a former legislator, a small business owner and state policy director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, recounted the struggles she faced with her young son who had chronic asthma. As a small business owner at the time, she struggled to provide health care for her family and her employees.

“To ensure my son remained eligible for CHIP, a program that provided him with vital medical care, I was forced into a corner,” Barnes said. “Making more money, expanding my business and hiring more staff – all paths to improving our lives – would disqualify him from the program, pushing essential health care out of reach.

“Our system is broken,” Barnes said. “It punishes ambition and stifles growth.”

Before the Care4Mississippi rally, the Legislative Black Caucus on Wednesday morning held a press conference calling for adoption of the House’s more expansive Medicaid coverage plan.

“We remain committed to having full expansion and covering as many working Mississippians as possible,” said House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, D-Natchez. “Our goal is to sustain health care in Mississippi and sustain it in a way that it doesn’t matter where you live or what your income is.”

The post Mississippi Capitol sees second day of hundreds rallying for ‘full Medicaid expansion now’ appeared first on Mississippi Today.

In his annual State of the State address in February 2024, Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, highlighted Mississippi’s recent improvement in education and the need for further progress. 

This is a mission shared by the SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy, a science- and technology-focused institution located within 20 miles of the high school area that the governor proposed using in his address.

Statement from the Governor

In his annual statement, Gov. Tate Reeves highlighted the progress Mississippi has enjoyed in the education sphere over the last few years, commonly known as the “Mississippi miracle.” This miracle references the state’s impressive feats in closing the test score gap it used to have with the rest of the US.

In 2013, Mississippi was the second-worst state for fourth-grade reading abilities. Yet by 2022, it had achieved a ranking of 21 out of all the states—a significant achievement. These improvements have been attributed to state policies like holding back third graders with poor reading skills and focusing on phonics to better cover the basics of literacy. The state has also boosted its graduation rates, which went from 75% (below the national average) in 2011 to 87% (above the national average) by 2020.

But the Governor doesn’t want to stop there, saying: “Now we must discover how to go from good to great.” To achieve this, he cited ambitions to embrace new education models, such as schools that take a fresh approach. The Mississippi School for Math and Science was named as one success story.  Located on the campus of Mississippi University for Women and aimed at academically gifted children, the school has become one of the best public high schools in the nation since launching in 1987.

A Call for More STEM Education

Gov. Tate Reeves proposed creating more schools dedicated to STEM subjects in Mississippi to recreate the success stories shown by projects like the Mississippi School for Math and Science.

He said in his speech: “I propose that we create 12 Mathematics and Engineering Magnet Schools throughout the state. By establishing eight Pre-K through 8th-grade schools and three more high schools, we can help to ensure Mississippi kids are given the education required to be successful in an increasingly technological economy.”

The state is also capitalizing on this growing technological economy outside of education, with Mississippi benefiting from various industry titans basing themselves in the state. Namely, there are plans to build an EV battery factory in Marshall County and two data centers in Madison County. Both of these will offer employment opportunities for students. 

Gov. State Reeves asked the Legislature to enact an apprenticeship education model for high school seniors, allowing them to opt for practical education over classrooms to gain skills if they so wish.

He even got specific by naming the location of the old Central High School as the perfect location for building more schools dedicated to growing the next generation of technologists and engineers. 

However, the governor seemingly failed to realize that a school recently opened that meets all his criteria and shares a similar vision: the SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy.

Introducing SR1

As its name suggests, SR1 is focused on STEM education and shares many of the objectives outlined in the governor’s address. 

Spanning 270 acres, the campus itself is a testament to science and technology, with various developments that allow students to benefit from first-hand learning.

One standout feature is its farm vernacular learning structure, which boasts constructions for egg harvesting, seasonal planting, and more. Other constructions of note throughout the school campus include:

• Trail system spanning wetlands, rivers, woodlands
• Earth tubes with climate control 
• Controlled grow environments with climate control
• Green growing towers and growing trays
• Composting toilets

SR1 has a comprehensive STEM curriculum and ample extracurricular activities that facilitate STEM learning outside of the classroom. For instance, the school regularly runs trips to the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

The school is located on Towne Center Blvd, Ridgeland, which means it’s located within 20 miles of the Governor’s proposed central high school (and within 10 miles of the mega site).

While it’s still a fairly new project, SR1 enrolled 100 students for its 225 slots in grades K-2 for 2024-2025. It also plans to open a PreK to boost students’ learning before they start school, giving them the best start possible for a STEM education.

An Emphasis on Minorities

SR1’s focus on STEM has parallels with the Mississippi School for Math and Science. But while the aforementioned school is for gifted children only, the SR1 takes a different approach.

For one, it’s a free public charter school open to everyone.  The school also focused on promoting equity in STEM education — a point the Governor missed.  Minority groups like African American, Native American, and Hispanic students — as well as female students — often don’t enter STEM due to the lack of representation and failing to receive the much-needed foundational education early in their life.

SR1 aims to amend this issue through its partnership with a nonprofit (of the same name), which works with organizations in Mississippi to boost social mobility for minority groups.

An Exciting Time for Mississippi

Mississippi has already garnered a reputation across the US for its stellar educational offering and impressive advancements over the last few years. Going by success stories like The Mississippi School for Math and Science and upcoming developments that could make the state a center for technology and industry, its future may be even brighter. 

The SR1 School is showing strong potential for contributing to this positive future.

For more information visit our website at www.sr1cpsa.org , email: info@sr1cpsa.og or call: 769.275.0330.

The post New STEM school matches governor’s plans for Mississippi appeared first on Mississippi Today.

Ridgeland, MS — In its inaugural year in 2023-24, the SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (CPSA) located in Canton, MS, is leading an educational transformation in Mississippi, backed by the visionary non-profit organization SR1. With a focus on college preparatory and STEM education, the academy leverages extensive grassroots experience to pioneer new educational pathways, aiming to nurture unparalleled student achievements.

Despite facing initial skepticism about the feasibility of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education at the elementary level, SR1 CPSA has surmounted initial hurdles, including narrow recruitment windows and a community not fully aware of the potential of STEM and charter schools. Starting with just 15 students, the academy’s enrollment has impressively expanded to over 100, nearing its full capacity of 225 students for the 2024-25 academic year.

Founder Tamu Green believes that the essence of a charter school’s success lies in its innovation and adaptability. “The charter realm harbors incredible potential for innovation,” Green asserts. Coming from a humble background in rural Forest, MS, and evolving into a two-time college STEM graduate with an MBA from Mississippi State University, Green’s journey from head start programs to professional leadership embodies a remarkable blend of resilience, cultural competency, and expertise.

The academy’s commitment to quality is evident in its policy of limiting enrollment to 75 students per grade while planning to expand gradually. SR1 CPSA will have K, 1^st, and 2^nd grades for 2024-25 while adding one grade per year. 

To broaden its impact, SR1 CPSA has initiated strategic efforts to enhance enrollment and community engagement. Highlighting student achievements, parent testimonials, and utilizing social media, the academy aims to integrate more deeply into the local fabric. These initiatives are bolstered by partnerships and active participation in community events to promote its STEM-focused curriculum further.

SR1 CPSA is expanding its educational offerings to include PreK early learning, intending to improve school readiness from a young age. Additionally, the academy is tackling the challenge of an innovative wastewater system, in developing a cutting-edge campus that exceeds the norms of traditional educational settings. This displays SR1 CPSA’s sustainable commitment to environments that support both academic success and well-being.

Guided by the latest in neuroscience, psychology, and other fields, the upcoming campus will embrace principles of Neuroarchitecture, Biophilic Design (increased connectivity with nature), and Salutogenic Design (an environment that supports health and well-being). This comprehensive approach marks a departure from conventional school designs, prioritizing spaces that foster both educational excellence and personal well-being.

SR1 CPSA is calling on stakeholders to actively participate in redefining educational environments to fulfill the needs of upcoming generations. Crucially, to align with the Mississippi Charter Authorizer Board’s recent stipulations for the 2024-25 academic year, due to an increase in student numbers, SR1 CPSA is tasked with securing a $700,000 educational contingency fund.

This requirement comes despite the academy’s projections of financial profitability for the next academic year. We invite our community to support us in meeting this essential milestone, ensuring that we continue to offer unparalleled educational opportunities.

This venture aims not only to raise educational standards but also to equip students to face the complexities of the future confidently. For more information visit our website at www.sr1cpsa.org , email: info@sr1cpsa.org or call: 769.275.0330. 

This ambitious project, based on evidence-based strategies to enhance student outcomes and well-being, is set to significantly transform the landscape of educational design, heralding a new era of educational excellence in Mississippi and beyond.

The post SR1 CPSA: Shaping the future of education in Mississippi appeared first on Mississippi Today.

In discussions about the highest-paying career paths and college degrees, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is often viewed as a golden ticket. Yet access to the field isn’t equal. Minority groups — such as African American, Hispanic, and Native American individuals — are less likely to pursue STEM college degrees or professions. Women are also underrepresented.

To help combat the problem, SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy launched to promote equity in STEM education. The Mississippi-based institution focuses its recruitment on underrepresented minorities, instilling a love for lifelong learning while
preparing its students for emerging STEM opportunities in the state.

Introducing the Academy

The SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy is a public charter school that hosts children from kindergarten age to the 5th grade. As the name suggests, it has a comprehensive STEM curriculum and aims to help its students secure college places. The school was launched in partnership with the nonprofit SR1 (Scientific Research), which works with public and private organizations to offer more educational opportunities to minority groups in Mississippi.

To facilitate learning, the institution is building a 200-acre campus with learning spaces inspired by nature (proven to boost creativity and lower stress), plus a blend of indoor and outdoor learning. It also has a dedicated teaching team, with an approach that emphasizes critical thinking and intellectual curiosity over rote memorization.

Despite a strong focus on educational attainment, the SR1 Academy recognizes that a student’s future success comes down to more than just their grades, so it goes above and beyond to facilitate a holistic curriculum with lots of extracurriculars. This includes plans to carry out regular trips to destinations like the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and STEM centers to inspire its students.

“As pioneers in STEM-focused education, SR1 CPSA is committed to leveling the playing field and empowering underrepresented minorities to excel in STEM fields,” says school founder Tamu Green.

The Rise of STEM in Mississippi

Mississippi is known by many for its eponymous river, and few people would associate it with science, engineering, or technology. Yet the state is set to be the home of numerous exciting advancements in STEM-related fields that are reshaping the economic landscape and making it a hub for future opportunities. This means Mississippi is the ideal location for a STEM-focused school.

In January 2024, state legislators approved incentives to build an EV battery factory in Marshall County. Four companies will be investing a combined $1.9 billion into the project, which aims to bring manufacturing to the US instead of relying on imports from foreign nations like China. It promises to provide 2,000 jobs to the area, with an average salary of $66,000 — offering fantastic career opportunities for those studying engineering-related subjects.

The state may also be on the cusp of building two data centers worth a total $10 billion in Madison County. A large (unnamed) company has been in talks with the Mississippi Legislature to seek approval for the project. If it goes forward, it will create 1,000 jobs, with salaries at least 125% above the average state wage. The initiative would also be the largest capital investment in Mississippi’s history.

These are just two of the most prominent examples of projects underway in Mississippi, and they both demonstrate that the STEM sector offers high-paying work. Lawmakers are also striving to bring economic development initiatives to other parts of the state to spread the wealth.

Economic Mobility and Growth

College has often been known as the great equalizer in society, promising graduates stable careers and high salaries. Recently, some have questioned this narrative due to high numbers of graduates meaning many struggle to find work in their fields, along with stifling student debt. Yet this doesn’t necessarily mean that education isn’t a driver of economic mobility anymore.

The college wage premium is an economic concept demonstrating the difference in lifetime earnings between a graduate and someone with no education beyond a high school diploma. Overall, the college wage premium is flattening, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco — but lifetime earnings are still higher for graduates, showing that college remains a sound investment. However, the subject a college student chooses has a huge impact on earning potential.

In a report by Georgetown University about the economic value of different college majors, significant discrepancies were found between subjects. Petroleum engineering graduates earned far more than their peers in other fields, with median earnings of $120,000. Other STEM fields were also at the top of the list — Pharmacy Pharmaceutical Sciences and Mathematical and Computer Sciences graduates both enjoyed average earnings above $100,000. Meanwhile, the lowest-earning category was mostly populated by non-STEM subjects, such as Early Childhood Education and Counseling Psychology. 

The analysis becomes even more complex when accounting for different ethnic backgrounds For instance, wages of black and Hispanic high school graduates have increased more quickly than college graduates in recent years (while wages increased at roughly the same rate for white individuals). This may be due to differences in subject choices.

A report about Diversity and STEM from the National Science Foundation found that 18% of the black and African American population works in STEM occupations (with the other 82% working in non-STEM occupations). Hispanics had a similar proportion, with 20% working in STEM. Meanwhile, 25% of the white workforce are in the STEM sector. There’s also discrepancies between the genders, with 29% of the male workforce yet 18% of the female workforce occupying STEM professions. 

Even more concerning is that the median wage for white people in the STEM field is almost $66k, compared to an average of $45,480 for Hispanics and $54,734 for black and African American individuals.

The SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy hopes to correct this discrepancy by encouraging those from underrepresented groups to pursue STEM early on in their education, empowering them to choose college degrees and professions in the field.

This is a critical driver for economic impact and societal advancement. When certain groups are insufficiently represented, it isn’t just detrimental to those groups — it also has a negative impact on society and the economy, as future talent is lost, and innovation is hindered. In contrast, education and equity have the power to boost economic growth and foster innovation.

SR1 CPSA is excited to announce that we are offering FREE school supplies and uniform vouchers to families who fully enroll. Join us in giving your children the resources they need for a successful school year!  For more information visit our website at www.sr1cpsa.org , email: info@sr1cpsa.org or call: 769.275.0330.

The post New STEM school in Mississippi to boost economic growth and equity appeared first on Mississippi Today.

In this episode of Mississippi Stories, Mississippi Today Editor-at-Large Marshall Ramsey sits down with Natalie Moore, Peer Wellness Support Services Coordinator for the Mississippi Mental Health Association. Moore and Ramsey share their experiences battling mental health issues and the Congregational Recovery Outreach Program’s upcoming mental health summit.

CROP is a faith-based, grant program that aims to help individuals recovering from substance use disorders and mental illnesses.

The post Mississippi Stories: Natalie Moore appeared first on Mississippi Today.

U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate ordered the release of government benefits data on Tuesday to allow Jackson’s third-party water manager to carry out a first-of-its-kind approach to billing.

The order calls on government agencies, mainly the Mississippi Department of Human Services, to release data to the manager, JXN Water, showing who in the capital city receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Late last year, JXN Water’s Ted Henifin released a new billing system proposal that would raise rates for most but provide discounted bills for those receiving SNAP.

The proposal hit a snag in the last few months, as both MDHS and the U.S. Department of Justice opposed JXN Water’s motions asking the court to require that the agencies release a list of SNAP recipients. The two agencies argued that doing so would violate privacy laws that are a part of the program. MDHS also said it didn’t have the capacity to provide such assistance without funding.

In Tuesday’s order, Wingate says that JXN Water’s SNAP discounts are equivalent to a federal assistance program.

“The prompt implementation of the most recent rate schedule is critical to ensuring that residents pay equitably for public drinking water and sewer services,” the judge wrote.

In its proposal, JXN Water said the new discounts would save those residents 69 cents a day on average. Census data from 2022 shows that almost 10,000 Jackson households, or about 16% of the city’s homes, receive SNAP. When presenting the new structure last November, Henifin said the model would be the first of its kind in the country for a water system.

But since the new water bill system went into place in on Feb. 1, JXN Water says it hasn’t been able to apply the discounts because it doesn’t know who receives SNAP. Wingate’s order this week gives the government agencies until the of month, April 30, to provide the data and requires them to give quarterly updates of the list of recipients starting in July.

The post Wingate orders release of SNAP data for JXN Water discounts appeared first on Mississippi Today.

His Masters performance reinforces Scottie Scheffler’s role as golf’s No. 1 guy, but watch out for Ludvig Aberg. Plus, the Ole Miss baseball team shows that reports of its early demise were greatly exaggerated. Lane Kiffin shows what many of us have suspected all along: Spring football games are a waste of energy. The Clevelands also take a dive into the WNBA draft.

Stream all episodes here.

The post Podcast: It’s Scottie Scheffler’s world and the rest of us golf in it. appeared first on Mississippi Today.

In December 2001, with the support of a diverse group of people, businesses, and community organizations, Link Centre opened on Main Street in Tupelo. Although at 17 years old, I (Melanie Deas) vowed to never return to Mississippi, I found myself saying yes to the role of Executive Director in January 2007. 

Link Centre is a multi-faceted place. It’s a nonprofit organization, a community partner, a landlord, an artist co-op, a transit center, an entrepreneurial incubator, an event venue, a storm shelter, a medical clinic, a referral service, an imaginative reuse of an historic property, a movie set, a neighborhood lighthouse, a creative academy, a sacred space – and a place where people with many different opinions on many different topics regularly cross paths. We proudly name “respectful,” “compassionate,” and “responsible” among our core operating principles. We are intentional about being a place of acceptance and art – something that doesn’t always make us popular, but we believe it does make us essential. 

We strive to build a community in which people and organizations could work together and learn from each other. In spite of our efforts, however, we continue to see people growing further apart. We seem to be finding less common ground. Particularly since the pandemic, we seem to be less interested in interacting with other people. Over the same period of time, multiple studies show that more than 75% of Americans are exhausted by political division and view escalating polarization as a threat to our country’s survival. These facts are what excited us most when we heard of the opportunity to partner with National Week of Conversation. 

We want to be part of the movement to provide people opportunities to take positive action to reverse the troubling trends of polarization. We believe that the best way we can do that is by acting on a hyper-local scale. Indeed, this is where Link Centre thrives. Our vision is to “Celebrate creativity. Engage partners. Build community. Enrich lives.” These principles are similar to the values that ground National Week of Conversation. 

Like others across the country, we believe in building a better community; and Link Centre’s programs depend on people being willing to gather in public. We consider it an honor and a responsibility to offer art as a way for our community members to explore their differences while uniting in common activities. For these reasons, we are proud to offer two opportunities to come together, share a meal, and begin a conversation about how we might build a better North Mississippi. 

This year, Link Centre will screen two Better Together Film Festival selections; the first on April 16, featuring “LIST(e)N”, the second on Wednesday, April 17 featuring “Purple: America, We Need to Talk”. By providing one evening screening and one lunchtime screening, we hope that we can reach as many people as possible. 

We invite you to join us. We are ready to listen. 

Join the conversation.

Join us at Noon on Friday, April 19 for a VIRTUAL lunch and learn session exploring tools to make us better listeners, and in turn, better equipped to engage in meaningful conversations across differences.

The session will be led by Dr. Graham Bodie, professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Media and Communication in the School of Journalism and New Media at the University of Mississippi.

This event is free and open to the public. Register to receive more information.

REGISTER FOR FREE

The post Tupelo’s Link Centre celebrates creativity to build community appeared first on Mississippi Today.

Powerful business groups are urging legislative leaders “to work together” to improve health care access as they negotiate whether to expand Medicaid coverage for Mississippians and by how much.

“Access to healthcare is not just about individual health, but about the well being of our entire community,” the Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee said in a letter to House Speaker Jason White. “It means a healthier population, a healthier work force and an improved quality of life, all of which contribute to stronger Mississippi communities.”

White released the letter on social media and said, “We appreciate the business community’s support to provide healthcare access to low-income Mississippians. A healthy economy is dependent on a healthy workforce.”

The House, where White presides, has passed legislation to expand Medicaid as is allowed under federal law to cover people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level or about $20,000 per year for an individual. The Senate’s proposal would expand Medicaid to those working and earning less than 100% of the federal poverty level or about $15,000 annually.

House and Senate leaders are in the process of trying to hammer out their differences on the issue.

While the business groups did not explicitly endorse either plan, they did say they routinely expected state leaders to “responsibly” use federal dollars for education, infrastructure and for other services.

“Let’s give our hospitals and healthcare experts the same opportunity so hard-working Mississippians will benefit,” the letter leaders said.

Under the House plan, the federal government would pay 90% of the health care costs for those covered by Medicaid expansion. Under the Senate plan, the federal government will pay about 77% of the costs, which, according to studies, means fewer Mississippians would be covered at a significantly higher cost to the state under the Senate plan.

In addition, under the House plan, the state would receive an additional nearly $700 million over a two-year period, which the federal government is offering to the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid.

The post Business leaders urge legislators mulling Medicaid expansion to improve access to health care appeared first on Mississippi Today.