Tunica, gambling, and more:: Mississippi. 5/5/12

Hi all

I started out early, but somehow arrived in Tunica really late for my morning meeting. Bridge closed and needed alternate route but GPS was obstinate. Accident on the one lane road. And then stuck behind trucks. Impossible to pass. Then needed gas. Anyway, finally got to Tunica.

Arrived at the “office” of Concerned Citizens for a Bettor Tunica  Long narrow space-piled everywhere with papers and booklets and organizing paraphernalia. Barely room for the four of us to meet. Hadn’t been to Tunica before.

Once again, an organization that is very family-run. Mother. Father. Grown daughter. Every group I met with here in Mississippi had intertangled family running it.  Siblings. Aunts. Parents. Grandparents  and even exes. Someone’s daughter is on someone else’s board or staff.  Someone’s spouse is employed by another’s board member. But it works and certainly eliminates the 9 to 5 problem. This work is definitely driven by passion. The groups operate on shoestring budgets and hosts of volunteers.

Again CCBT is focused on education reform, and redistricting, and accountability of elected and appointed officials.

Tunica — population 1,100 in the town and 10,000 in the county — is different from the other communities in a striking way. Tunica is home to 11 casinos. Until the 1990s, Tunica was considered one of the most impoverished communities in the entire country and was known for its open sewers. Now it’s the third largest gambling area in the US. While the casino funds have definitely helped the schools, it’s a pittance in relation to the earnings of Harrah’s and the likes.

But now the 29 sq mile area (known as “Tunica Resorts” — population zero) is looking into incorporating into its own town with plans for upscale housing and senior developments.  If this is approved, the impact on Tunica schools could be devastating. At the moment, Tunica boasts fairly new, well-equipped school buildings and funds to pay teachers higher salaries to attract them to the region.

The issue of quality teachers came up numerous times, and residents in the Delta have some strong opinions about Teach For America which is sending many many young people to the Delta to compensate for their difficulty attracting teachers. Local activists don’t like TFA because they feel the young people are not culturally sensitive and that by the time they understand the community and culture (if they get to that point), they are ready to complete their two year commitment. I heard this again and again. They fell TFA gives experience to the young teachers but doesn’t help their community.

After meeting with Marilyn, Mel, and Ashley, we headed for lunch with the leaders from Duck Hill (population 746) where I had visited a few years ago. Lunch (to my surprise) was at the casino!! Buffets galore — Asian, BBQ, Southwest, Italian, you name it– I opted for the salad bar.

My quick assessment of who was on the slots would say a racial mix (and some of the organizers admitted quickly that they come to the casino often to play slots). So maybe a windfall will wind up helping these nonprofits bolster their coffers! I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Oh another interesting story. One of the really small organizations that works with youth was approached thru Ben and Jerry’s Foundation about doing a youth exchange with a small rural town in Vermont and they did it. Ten high school kids from the Delta went to Vermont…. and then, kids from the families who hosted them in Vermont, came to Mississippi. Apparently the kids are all still in touch. Delta kids were surprised there’s no paddling in Vermont schools and said classes were much more casual in Vermont, including one classroom that had bean bags instead of chairs!! That really shocked the Mississippi kids.

By 4 p.m., I was pretty beat; it was more than 90 degrees; and I still had to drive to Memphis. It’s a lot to absorb and these notes are just the tip of the iceberg of what I am seeing and trying to comprehend.

Best

I’m back in the bay area … Survived my week… no New York Times. No chai lattes. No Fed Ex drop-off locations.

Fern