racial equity

The primary goal of the Baptist Town Community Organization is to provide a safe space for children in Baptist Town, Mississippi. These children, sometimes as young as 10 years old, are often recruited as drug runners because they literally have nothing else to do, no other place to go, and little parental supervision. The streets become their surrogate family and the street corners their hangout and as a result, many drop out of school and are forever caught up in a life of crime.

The Elijah House project is designed break that cycle by providing an alternative to street life, drugs and gang violence. An after-school program serving 10- to 18-year-old at-risk children, the project will provide academic tutoring and peer mentoring in a safe, healthy environment where children can study. Funding is sought to maintain a secure, clean space for children to gather, provide computer access, books, nutrition education and potential tutor stipends.