2026 Impact Stories
Closing the Creativity Gap: Empowering Young Artists at West Lauderdale Elementary
For many students at West Lauderdale Elementary, the art classroom is more than just another class—it’s a place where creativity flourishes, confidence grows, and every child has the opportunity to express themselves. Thanks to support from the Susan B. Herron Lively Arts & Education Grant, that creative space will become even more vibrant for more than 725 students, including Pre-K and special education classes.
Art teacher Kara Lank understands that not every student has access to quality art supplies at home. For many children, the classroom is the only place where they can paint, draw, build, and discover their artistic talents. The grant will provide essential materials—including paints, brushes, watercolor sets, specialty paper, markers, colored pencils, and classroom organization supplies—ensuring every student has the tools they need to explore their creativity.
These resources will do more than fill classroom shelves. They will open doors to hands-on learning experiences that encourage students to think critically, solve problems, collaborate with classmates, and develop confidence through artistic expression. By introducing a wider variety of artistic mediums and techniques, students will be challenged to stretch their imaginations while building skills that extend far beyond the art room.
The impact will also reach beyond the classroom walls. School-wide art displays and collaborative projects will provide opportunities for families and the community to celebrate student achievements together. These events will showcase the creativity of West Lauderdale Elementary’s young artists while strengthening the connection between the school and the community it serves.
Success will be measured not only by the artwork students create but also by the enthusiasm they bring to each lesson, the confidence they gain in expressing themselves, and the pride they feel when sharing their accomplishments. The materials purchased through this grant have been carefully selected to serve multiple grade levels throughout the school year, creating a lasting investment in arts education for years to come.
At the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, we believe the arts inspire innovation, build confidence, and help students discover their unique voices. Through the generosity of donors who support the Susan B. Herron Lively Arts & Education Grant, West Lauderdale Elementary is helping ensure that every child has the opportunity to create, imagine, and thrive. Together, we are closing the creativity gap—one young artist at a time.
Lively Arts & Education Grant: The Refuge Christmas Production
The Susan B. Herron Lively Arts & Education Grant honors one of Meridian’s most dedicated cultural leaders, continuing her legacy of expanding access to the arts across East Mississippi. Through this endowed fund, the Community Foundation of East Mississippi supports programs that bring creative and educational opportunities to communities throughout Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton counties.
With this support, The Refuge of Mississippi will launch its Christmas Musical and Play—an inclusive theatre production designed for adults with disabilities. The Refuge Day Program is a nonprofit organization that serves adults with disabilities Monday through Friday, providing a safe, structured environment where participants—known as “Friends”—engage in activities that build life skills, confidence, independence, and community.
Led by Executive Director Brooke Crenshaw, the program creates meaningful opportunities for individuals to grow through workstations, creative arts, social interaction, and spiritual development. This project extends that mission into the performing arts, offering Friends the opportunity to express themselves through acting, music, dance, and storytelling in a setting designed for their success.
Grant funding provided costumes, stage materials, props, and decorations—transforming the production into a full theatrical experience. These elements allow participants to fully step into their roles and confidently showcase their talents, creativity, and personalities. Over the course of rehearsals, Friends build communication and teamwork skills while preparing for a performance that celebrates their abilities.
The production will culminate in a Christmas performance at The Ellis Theatre in Philadelphia, Mississippi, where many participants will take the stage for the first time. For families and community members, the event offers a powerful opportunity to see beyond disabilities and instead recognize the joy, talent, and potential of each individual.
More than a performance, the Christmas play serves as a moment of advocacy and connection. It introduces The Refuge’s mission to the broader community, highlights the ongoing need for adult disability services, and invites others to become involved through volunteering and support. As shared by The Refuge, this experience will be the “first opportunity our Friends will have to stand on a stage and be celebrated for what they can do, and will never be forgotten.”
2025 Impact Stories
“The Holbrook Building is a movement of preservation, restoration, and revitalization in downtown Meridian! It is the essence of legacy, culture, and excellence with so much more to give to the community!”
– Dr. Gowdy
Holbrook: Historic Restoration Downtown
In the heart of downtown Meridian, the Holbrook Building stands as more than just a historic structure, it is a symbol of resilience, culture, and community. Located in Meridian’s historic Black business district, the building once served as a thriving hub of entrepreneurship, connection, and cultural exchange for generations.
For decades, the Holbrook Building played a vital role in shaping the identity of the community. It housed Black-owned businesses, hosted events, and created opportunities for growth during a time when spaces like it were essential to the success and unity of the African American community. From professional offices to social gatherings, it became a cornerstone of life in Meridian.
Among those connected to the building’s legacy is Dr. Otis Gowdy, a respected leader and physician whose work and presence in the community reflect the spirit of excellence, service, and progress that the Holbrook Building has long represented.
Today, through restoration efforts led by the Holbrook Collective, the building is being thoughtfully re-imagined as a space where history and future meet. Their mission is to preserve the building’s legacy while creating new opportunities for artistic expression, education, and community engagement. By combining cultural preservation with innovation, the Holbrook is once again becoming a place where people gather, learn, and grow together.
The revitalization of the Holbrook Building is not just about restoring a physical space; it is about restoring a sense of pride, identity, and opportunity. Plans for storefronts, creative spaces, and community programming aim to bring new life to downtown Meridian while honoring the stories that came before.
As the building continues its transformation, it serves as a powerful reminder that investing in history can inspire future generations. The Holbrook is once again emerging as a hub for connection, creativity, and lasting community impact.
Through its preservation and renewal, the Holbrook Building is helping shape a stronger, more connected Meridian, one that honors its past while building toward a vibrant future.
“By strategically utilizing these funds, we have created a repeatable model that connects local history with professional readiness, directly fulfilling the intent of the Charles L. Young, Sr. Grant.”
– LCSD FOUNDATION
Legacy in Action: Business Roots, Student Rise
With support from the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, the Lauderdale County School District Foundation is transforming how students connect with history, leadership, and career opportunity. Funded through the Charles L. Young, Sr. Grant for Historic Preservation, the “Legacy in Action: Business Roots, Student Rise” program brings Meridian’s African American business heritage to life while equipping students with practical, real-world skills. Inspired by leaders like Representative Charles L. Young, Sr., the initiative bridges past and future—showing students that entrepreneurship, leadership, and community impact are part of the same story.
The program launched with a high-impact Business Etiquette and Legacy Lunch & Learn at Meridian Community College, where 26 students from across all four Lauderdale County school zones participated—exceeding the original goal of 15. Through hands-on learning and direct engagement with local leaders, students demonstrated a 62% increase in historical legacy awareness and a 36% increase in professional etiquette confidence. As one project reflection noted, “Seeing our students sit at a formal table, practicing the etiquette of business leaders, and discussing their own career aspirations was a powerful reminder that when a community invests in its youth, it secures its own future.” The experience deepened students’ understanding of local icons like Frank Berry and E.F. Young, Jr., while strengthening their sense of identity and belonging.
Building on that momentum, four standout students advanced into “High-Impact Micro-Internships,” gaining hands-on experience with local minority-owned businesses and exploring real career pathways. Despite limited funding, the program expanded its reach by 400% and established a scalable model for workforce development rooted in community connection. By connecting mentorship, education, and lived experience, Legacy in Action is not only preserving history—it is actively shaping the next generation of leaders and strengthening the future of East Mississippi.
“This grant has truly revitalized the accessibility of my classroom, which is the most important goal of mine as an educator.”
– Katherine Waldrop
West Hills: Expanding Access to Learning & Creative Expression
The Susan B. Herron Lively Arts & Education Grant honors a legacy of creativity and cultural leadership across East Mississippi, supporting programs that expand access to arts education in Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton counties. Through this endowed fund, the Community Foundation of East Mississippi continues to invest in opportunities that encourage artistic expression, educational enrichment, and student engagement across the region.
The Excellence in Education Grant, created in memory of Mr. Walter L. Smith, supports innovative educational projects across the same five-county region. The fund invests in educators and organizations working to strengthen student learning experiences and improve accessibility in the classroom.
Through these two grants, West Hills Elementary School implemented two projects focused on expanding both creative expression and instructional support for students.
In one initiative, 4th Grade ELA teacher Stacy Shuler led “Books Arts: Multimedia Expression,” a hands-on arts integration project for students in grades three through five. In a school without formal art programming, the project provided a structured opportunity for students to explore creativity while reinforcing literacy and writing skills. With instruction from a professional book arts consultant, students learned bookbinding techniques and created their own handmade books, which they filled with poetry, stories, essays, and personal reflections. Each final product served as a personal expression of identity, voice, and imagination, blending artistic practice with academic learning.
In a second initiative supported through the Excellence in Education Grant, gifted educator Katherine Waldrop implemented “Be Flexible: Accessibility in the Gifted Classroom,” designed to better serve twice-exceptional students who experience both giftedness and learning differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, or sensory processing needs. While the original project included multiple flexible seating and accessibility tools, the final implementation focused on a single high-impact resource: an Epson document camera. This tool enabled real-time modeling of complex thinking processes, improving visual access and supporting students who benefit from structured, step-by-step instruction.
Across both projects, West Hills Elementary students experienced meaningful gains in engagement, confidence, and accessibility. Students in the book arts program strengthened creative expression and literacy skills through hands-on artistic work, while students in the gifted classroom benefited from improved instructional clarity and participation. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how targeted investments in both arts education and classroom accessibility can create more inclusive, engaging, and impactful learning environments for all students.
The Davidson Endowment Fund: MSU Riley Center
A new endowment from Marty and Linda Davidson will ensure the continued growth of arts, education, and community engagement through Mississippi State University’s Riley Center in downtown Meridian. Established through the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, this gift provides ongoing support for the Riley Center’s operational needs, strengthening one of the region’s most important cultural institutions.
The MSU Riley Center serves as a multifaceted landmark and the cultural centerpiece of the MSU-Meridian campus. With a grand opera house seating nearly 1,000 guests, the Center welcomes more than 80,000 visitors each year and hosts over 100 events annually. Its programming includes world-class performances, many designed specifically for middle and high school audiences, as well as educational conferences and community gatherings. The Riley Center also plays a vital economic role in downtown Meridian, supporting a network of local restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses while serving as a major driver of tourism and activity in the region.
Through their generosity, Marty and Linda Davidson are helping sustain this impact for years to come. As Christin Waters, CEO of the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, shared, “Marty and Linda Davidson are helping ensure the continued growth and sustainability of one of East Mississippi’s most treasured cultural institutions.” Their endowment strengthens the Riley Center’s ability to deliver meaningful experiences that connect community, education, and the arts.
Echoing that impact, Riley Center Executive Director Morgan Dudley noted, “Their generosity strengthens our ability to create memorable experiences for everyone who walks through our doors. They are helping ensure we can continue to be a place where community, education and the arts thrive together.” Through this investment, the Davidson family’s gift will continue to enrich East Mississippi’s cultural landscape for generations to come.
Catherine and Michael Slater: Scholarship
Established in 2019, the Catherine and Michael Slater Scholarship provides annual support to graduating seniors from Choctaw County High School as they pursue higher education at an Alabama public college or Meridian Community College. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years for students who maintain GPA requirements and apply Pell Grant funding toward tuition, offering sustained financial support throughout their college journey.
Since its first award in 2020, the scholarship has helped students continue their education with reduced financial burden and greater stability. By supporting students beyond their first year, the fund strengthens persistence and degree completion, ensuring long-term academic success rather than one-time assistance.
As one recipient shared, “I am grateful for the opportunity to complete my college degree without the burden of financial worry.” Another noted, “This scholarship has been a tremendous help towards my tuition… Thank you all again. May God bless you all.” These reflections highlight the scholarship’s impact in helping students focus on their education and future goals.
Through the continued generosity of Catherine and Michael Slater, this scholarship is opening doors for Choctaw County students to pursue higher education and build lasting opportunity.