83934 - Coalition for MS Newsletter
ADVICE | PLANNING | INVESTING MANAGING | RETIREMENT | UNDERSTANDING
Achieving Asset-Building Goals: Individual Development Account An Individual Development Account (IDA) can really make your money grow. Some IDA programs will give you as much as $3 for every $1 dollar that you save. This program is the quickest way to save for college, a home, or a new business or for retirement. Visit us on the WEB www.prosperousmississippi.com Follow us on TWITTER: www.twitter.com/ProsperousMS Friend us on FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/coalitionforaprosperousmississippi
An IDA is run by nonprofit organizations. You keep your money in a bank, and the amount of money you put in your IDA savings account is matched by the nonprofit organization. The interest is much higher than that of a regular savings account. You must use the account for the specific purpose.
ISSUE Second Quarter 2012
FARM BILL 2012: Planning Sessions
P2 PARTNER PROFILE
P3 FARM BILL FACTOIDS
P3
IDA programs are not available in every area. Find one in your area at: http://cfed.org/programs/idas/directory_search/
CONTACT US 233 E. HAMILTON STREET – JACKSON, MS 39202 – PHONE: 601.506.9401 Farm Bill Listening Session, Raymond, MS
Prosper
EMPOWERING MISSISSIPPIANS
Coalition Host Farm Bill Listening Sessions DID THE 2008 FARM BILL GO FAR ENOUGH IN ADDRESSING SOCIAL WELFARE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES? ARE THERE ANY AREAS OMITTED?
What changes are needed to make the 2012 Farm Bill more relevant and reflective of the needs and desires of the people it is designed to benefit? The Coalition for a Prosperous Mississippi planned five Listening Sessions in Mississippi to get feedback and input from stakeholders on the Farm Bill.
The listening sessions are aimed at gathering information and ideas about how the 2012 Farm Bill can be improved and how individuals and communities can better access Farm Bill resources as they work to protect and create assets and wealth. Two Listening Sessions have already taken place. The first one in Raymond, Mississippi, located in the central part of the state on May 12, 2011. The second Listening Session was held in Gulfport, Mississippi, the southern part of the
state on June 29, 2011. Addtional listening sessions are on the drawing board.for the Delta Region, Northeastern Mississippi, and central Mississippi. These sessions will held in July and August. Stakeholders, made up of farmers, farmers’ cooperatives, government assistance recipients, educators, entrepreneurs, social service agencies, community development agencies, other non-profits groups universities, and housing CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
83934 - Coalition for MS Newsletter
partner profile
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professionals, and various agencies, identified major areas of concern. Discussions were framed around the following: x x x x x x x x x x x
x
Rural housing State policies and priorities (How are they determined?) Communication and outreach Nutrition Food Security (including ‘farm to school’ program) Health issues: physical and mental Business and Entrepreneurship Support for small farmer Heir property Pigford Lawsuit Gaps and barriers (not addressed in the 2008 Farm Bill) Disaster assistance (Hurricane Katrina and BP oil spill)
Information and concerns gathered from these Listening Sessions will be compiled into policy recommendations and used to educate and inform policy makers.This, we feel, will provide meaningful input that will impact the drafting of a stronger bill with programs and policies that affects significant change for individuals and communities. Ccontributed by Evenly Njoroge and Melbah Smith
The Coalition for a Prosperous Mississippi met in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on April 28, 2011 for its annual meeting during the Alcorn State University Extension Program/Mississipp Association of Cooperatives Small Farmers Conference. The Financial Education Workgroup is led by Theresa Cheeks Wilson, Assistant Community Development Specialsist for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis – Memphis Branch . The goal of the Fnancial Education Workgroup is to inform and educate partners, elected officials, and the public-at-large. During a planning breakout session strategies were formulated to address predatory lending, unbanked and under banked individuals, foreclosures, Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), and statewide EITC. Moving forward, the group plans to aggressively advance toward raising the financial profile of people living in Mississippi with a proactive outreach approach. Farm Bill Process Session Attendees, Washington, D.C.
FARM BILL 2012: Processing Sessions
Other Workgroups meeting in Hattiesburg to map out strategies in their respective areas of focus were the Housing Workgroup led by Tim Collins, the Public Relations Workgroup led by Trina McLin, and the Policy Workgroup group led by Warren Yoder
On May 3-6, 2011, I along with a delegation from the Southern Regional Asset Building Coalition traveled to Washington, DC for a Farm Bill process session. The delegates represented Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana. The outcomes of the meeting were: 1) the transfer of information to the delegation in regarding farm bill while promoting leadership in each state and community, 2) to build and strengthen existing relationships between community-based organizations and the 1890 system, and 3) the creation of a mechanism to influence the upcoming farm bill. The delegation met with Krystal Harden, Chief of Staff for the USDA who has been through at least nine farm bill revisions. She shared a wealth of knowledge about important pieces of the bill such as mandatory funding direct payments, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Conservation of Rural Program(CRP), and discretionary funding authorized by the Agriculture Committee while the Appropriations Committee determines how much is distributed. Harden’s parting comments were to “keep adding seeds” which means to keep inviting partners to the table, thus adding diversity to the state dialogue. She mentioned that it is important to shoot for the stars –having a big wish list to present in the bill. In addition, “look for the champions on the hill to carry your water” and get to know a member of the Agricultue Committee. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
farm policy More than 130 organizations spanning the breadth of the agricultural spectrum – from small community based groups to the largest commodity trade associations – informed President Obama and Congressional leaders of their strong opposition to efforts to balance the federal budget on the backs of farmers and rural America. Source: http://www.farmpolicyfacts.org
9-30-2012 The current farm bill will expire in less than fifteen months.
LEARN DONATE JOIN US FARM BILL 2012 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
Kathy Ozer, Executive Director of the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) provided insight on her organization and what it lends to the farm bill. NFFC came to being as a result of the 1980’s farm bill in an effort to change policies and to preserve the things that are working in the current farm bill. Lastly, Mr. Leigh Allen, consultant for the Federation of Southern Cooperative/Land Assistance Fund and Farm Bill Session facilitator, gave an overview and description of the Farm Bill process. He called attention to the existing Farm Bill budget, which is 284 billion, while the actual bill is 367 billion and will expire in 2012. He critical also advised on the importance of working closely with the Congressional offices when conducting listening sessions. The current 5-year bill has 15 chapters and is broad ranging, however, there will be no new money in the next bill. On the last day, the delegation visited Capital Hill, accompanied by Ozer and Allen. We o meet with the Honorable Congressman Bennie Thompson, of the 2nd Congressional District of Mississippi, the Honorable Marcia L. Fudge, of the11th District of Ohio, and a representative of the Honorable Senator Kristen E. Gillibrand of New York. Contributed by Katrina McLin