The "Big Brothers of Brownsville" community organization brought so much cheer to kids at the Reach Academy today! #TisTheSeason🎁🎁

Brownsville and Haywood County are one city, one county, one community. We are one race: the human race. God created us all equal. Join us at our next community breakfast the 3rd week of January 9 am at the Chamber in Brownsville. We will discuss the next CommUNITY Walk.

Sunday evening the mayor’s office, home and cell phone were flooded with phone calls from concerned parents, citizens and community leaders about bullying through racial slurs and threats against African-American students and people who like African-Americans on social media. When contacted, Mayor William Rawls, stated in a phone call: “My heart is saddened that in 2017 bullying and racism still exist. Bullying and racism has no place in our community, city and especially not in our schools. Brownsville and Haywood County are one city, one county, one community. We are one race: the human race. God created us all equal. Let's remember, during this critical time, we must move forward, not backwards. Bullying, hatred, racism and bigotry have no place in our society.” Mayor Rawls has been at Haywood High School all morning, along with other school, city officials and law enforcement.

Delta Leadership Institute to send 41 community leaders to Harvard Kennedy School for executive training, leadership development, William Rawls selected for continuing education opportunity.... Pictures of trip... Mayor Williams Rawls, Delta Leadership Institute - held at Harvard Kennedy School....

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY Delta Leadership Institute community leaders attending Harvard Kennedy School for executive training, leadership development this week. Our very own Mayor William Rawls has been selected for continuing education opportunity We are very proud of Mayor Rawls strives to create jobs, build up our community and improve lives. We ask Mayor Rawls what this meant for him and the City Of Brownsville? Mayor Rawls response: "I am humbled and honored to be apart of the Delta Regional Authority leadership training. I am thankful to be able to continue to develop leadership skills to use to provide the City of Brownsville the best opportunities in these changes times. I love my city!"

DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 16, 2017 Media Contact: Joshua Price Program Contact: Spencer Lucker 501-270-5511 501-416-3789 jprice@dra.gov slucker@dra.gov Delta Leadership Institute to send 41 community leaders to Harvard Kennedy School for executive training, leadership development Mayor William Rawls selected for continuing education opportunity MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA REGION – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is continuing its partnership with Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) to offer an advanced education opportunity exclusively to members of the Delta Leadership Network. The program, designed and led by Harvard faculty, focuses on cultivating “authentic leadership” to move Delta communities forward. The Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) will send 41 representatives from across the eight states of the DRA footprint, including Mayor William Rawls of Brownsville TN This year’s four day-session, from Nov. 27-30, will be led by retired Air Force Brigadier General Dana Born, co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at HKS. “This executive training will equip regional leaders across the Delta with the latest advancements in leadership skills and will prepare them to make positive changes in their local communities,” said Peter Kinder, DRA’s alternate federal co-chairman. “These participants are alumni of the Delta Leadership Institute’s Executive Academy and were selected due to the leadership they have exemplified in their communities and their ability to translate these experiences to actionable solutions for the region.” The class includes six members from Alabama; seven from Arkansas; six from Illinois; two from Kentucky; four from Louisiana; four from Mississippi; six from Missouri; and six from Tennessee. The group reflects the diversity of the Delta region and includes public, private, and non-profit leaders that have graduated from the DLI’s Executive Academy. Chairman Kinder, DLI director Spencer Lucker, and select DLI staff will participate with the delegation of Delta leaders in the continuing education session. The 2017 Authentic Leadership participants are: Alabama Susan Keith of Selma | City of Selma Teresa McCall of Montgomery | Alabama Department of Mental Health Donald Mills of Livingston | The University of West Alabama Small Business Development Center Chad Nichols of Hoover | Sight Savers America Gena Robbins of York | City of York & The University of West Alabama Max Snyder of Northport | City of Northport Arkansas Mellie Bridewell of Lake Village | Arkansas Rural Health Partnership Jennifer Conner of Lake Village | University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service Lynn Hawkins-Caldwell of Lexa | Arkansas Rural Health Partnership Bevin Hunter of Wilson | Lawrence Group Karen McDaniel of Jonesboro | Arkansas State University Trudy Redus of Pine Bluff | City of Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Peggy Wright of Jonesboro | Arkansas State University Illinois Brandi Bradley of Marion | Office of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Lynne Chambers of Grand Chain | Bigler Law Office Brian Chapman of Ava | Southern Illinois University System Tracey Glenn of Herrin | Peoples National Bank Jennifer Olson of Carterville | The Lookout at the Lake Woody Thorne of Makanda | Southern Illinois Healthcare Kentucky Brandi Harless of Paducah | City of Paducah Mark Lee of Madisonville | Paragon Development Consultants, LLC Louisiana Cole Avery of Jonesboro | Office of U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham Leslie Durham of St. Joseph | Office of Governor John Bel Edwards Adam Holland of Oak Grove | Town of Oak Grove Heather Malone of Vidalia | City of Vidalia Mississippi Josh Bower of Jackson | Hinds Community College Rolando Herts of Cleveland | Delta State University – The Delta Center for Culture and Learning Tim Lampkin of Clarksdale | Higher Purpose Co. Lane Riley of Cleveland | Delta Hands for Hope Missouri TR Dudley of Potosi | City of Potosi Steve Halter of Poplar Bluff | Greater Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Maude Harris of Sikeston | University of Missouri Extension Kris Klaus of Perryville | Klaus Construction Scott Sattler of Perryville | Perry County Economic Development Authority Christina Wade of Caruthersville | Delta Regional Authority Tennessee Minnie Bommer of Covington | City of Covington Julie Allen Burke of Milan | Milan Chamber of Commerce Landy Fuqua of Martin | University of Tennessee at Martin REED Center Travis Martin of Jackson | TLM Associates, Inc. Bill Rawls of Brownsville | City of Brownsville Kayla Taylor of Jackson | Younger Associates DLI Staff Andrea Allen | Arkansas State University Shawnie Carrier | Arkansas State University Leigh Hersey | University of Louisiana Monroe Lauren Lewis | The University of Alabama Since 2005, the Delta Leadership Institute has worked to strengthen the knowledge and skills of community leaders across the Delta by broadening their understanding of regional issues and building a corps of alumni that have a regional and national perspective. DLI is a program of the Delta Regional Authority in partnership with three institutions of higher education from the DRA’s states: The University of Alabama, Arkansas State University and the University of Louisiana Monroe. About the Delta Regional Authority and the Delta Leadership Institute The DRA is a federal-state partnership created by Congress in 2000 to help create jobs, build communities, and improve lives through strategic investments in economic development and infrastructure projects in 252 counties and parishes across eight states. DRA has provided leadership development to nearly 500 community leaders over twelve years and strengthened regional collaboration through the Delta Leadership Institute. Learn more at dra.gov/leadership. About Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Kennedy School aims to improve public policy and public leadership in the United States and around the world through research, teaching, and direct engagement with policymakers and public leaders. Nearly 20,000 alumni of the School’s degree programs and 44,000 people who have taken executive education courses at the School work in more than 200 countries. In addition, faculty, staff, and students of the School are currently undertaking projects to advance knowledge and strengthen public policy and leadership in dozens of countries. Around the world, the skills and energy of the Harvard Kennedy School community are dedicated to helping make people’s lives safer, more prosperous, and more fulfilling. ###

Thanksgiving is a time to count our blessings with friends and family far and near! We were honored to give out turkeys to our community!