[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 53 (Tuesday, April 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING TUNICA TEENS IN ACTION, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 14, 2015

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Tunica Teens In Action, Inc. Tunica Teens In Action, Inc. (Concerned 
Citizens for a Better Tunica County) is an African-American, 
grassroots, community based, and community lead, leadership development 
organization that is rooted in empowering the African-American low-
income communities in Tunica County, MS and the Mississippi Delta since 
1993.
  Tunica Teens In Action, Inc. was formed in July 1999 when the young 
members of Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica County decided that 
they wanted more individualized training to help them do better 
community organizing work with their adult allies. Tunica Teens In 
Action started out with 17 young people ranging between the ages of 11-
20 who were led by Ashley N. McKay. These bright young people realized 
that they needed to develop their skills to help the community and 
themselves to succeed in a school system that had been on academic 
probation for over ten years.
  Tunica Teens In Action was formally incorporated in 2011 and fully 
transitioned from Concerned Citizens FABTC, Inc. as a youth and female 
led youth of color organization. Tunica Teens In Action, Inc. is a non-
profit 501(c)(3) community leadership development organization.
  Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica County was formed in 1993 when 
African-American grassroots low-income moms, dads, students, and other 
community activists came together to fight for education reform and 
fairness in Tunica County, MS. At that time, Tunica County was one of 
the poorest counties in the United States and when Rev. Jessie Jackson 
visited Tunica in 1985 he labeled it ``America's Ethiopia'' because of 
the devastating housing, economy, and community needs. Since 1993, 
Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica County had been a leadership 
development and empowering organization for Education Reform, Youth 
Leadership Development, Housing and Job Reform, Democracy Organizing, 
and Environmental Justice. Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica 
County, Inc. formally incorporated in 1997 and was a 501(c)(3) tax-
exempt nonprofit organization.
  Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica County, Inc. (Concerned 
Citizens) is a rural broad based grassroots community leadership 
development, education, and training organization working to empower 
the community by developing new grassroots leaders and organizers in 
Tunica County, Mississippi. Concerned Citizens For A Better Tunica 
County, Inc.'s mission is to empower the disadvantaged and low income 
community (families) of color by building leadership and organization, 
involving students and parents using the intergenerational model, 
(young people and old people working together), in the community of 
Tunica County, MS.
  ``Empower'' is defined as the effective participation of the 
community to impact the formation of public policy and effective 
participation in the decision making process in the educational, 
economic, political, environmental, and social change systems with a 
special emphasis on education policy in the Tunica School District that 
will help to create a first-rate quality public educational opportunity 
for all families in Tunica County and the country. With roots in the 
struggle for education justice, Concerned Citizens has evolved into a 
multi-issue community based organization that is led by low-income 
people of color.
  The TRANSITION to TUNICA TEENS IN ACTION: Tunica Teens In Action, 
Inc. mission is to develop young leaders, especially those from 
disadvantaged circumstances, who will be able to effectively 
participate in their community by developing the educational skills, 
technical skills, and understanding thru community organizing using the 
intergeneration model since 1993.
  Tunica Teens In Action's program of work is rooted in leadership 
development and local community organizing that uses an intergeneration 
model to empower the low income communities of color. Most of Tunica 
Teens In Action work occurs at community trainings/workshops, at public 
actions to demonstrate community power, through collaborations and 
coalitions, social media, and in small one-on-one meetings to help 
educate ourselves and community.
  Major Accomplishments: Prevented the white farmers from re-
segregating the Robinsonville and Casino Community (1995).
  Prevented the Tunica County Board of Supervisors from Abolishing the 
County Voter Rolls (1996).
  Helped to get the Robinsonville Elementary School built for/near the 
Black Community (1998).
  Helped to get the Tunica County School District to a ``Successful'' 
academic rating (2011).
  Provided youth leadership and education training to over 25,000 
persons (1993-2015).
  Non-partisan Democracy Organizing--Accountable Governance trainings 
that helped to create over 30 new African-American accountable elected 
officials (2005-2015).
  Provided private education college scholarships to over 200 high 
school graduates (1999-2014).
  Provided redistricting training to community to help re-shape policy 
and power in Tunica County, Tate County, Panola County, Sunflower 
County, Tallahatchie County, Marshall County, Desoto County, Coahoma 
County, Lee County, Pontotoc County, and Green County (2002 and 2012).
  Established P-16 Community Engagement Councils to help parents and 
students to have a voice in the creation of education policies for 
their children (2011-2015).
  The staff includes Ashley N. McKay--Executive Director, Mildred P. 
Conley--Assistant Director, Marilyn L. Young--Education Director, 
Melvin Young--Resource Director, 4--Youth Interns, and a host of 
community and volunteers. TTIA has a 9 member Board of Directors that 
govern the organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tunica 
Teens In Action, Inc. for their dedication to serving their community 
and this great state and country.

                          ____________________