It only takes one to get the ball rolling
Dear River Citizens,
This month we took a new step to broaden the reach and expand support of
1 Mississippi in the legendary blues town of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Last Friday,
1 Mississippi trained a group of local youth leaders, preparing them to join other ambassadors raising awareness in their communities on River issues.
The Lower Mississippi River Foundation in coordination with Quapaw Canoe Company, have hosted our campaign in Mississippi since its beginning, and recognized a unique opportunity to pair 1 Mississippi with the leaders of the local Mighty Quapaw Apprenticeship Program. The program’s focus is to teach Delta youth how to build canoes, paddle and guide trips on the Big River. In the process, each individual learns how good it feels to work hard and work together, two very essential life skills. These young men and women know a great deal about how to safely canoe the Lower Mississippi River and now they are expanding their work to help protect the River they know so well.
Zero to Sixty in Three Minutes
To better understand how we are building a social movement, one where River Citizens stand united as the guardians and caretakers of the River, we showed this funny 3 minute TED video on how social movements gather strength and reach the tipping point of mass support. We appreciate all of you, our first supporters for your vision and willingness to help make an idea reality. The community of River Citizens gets stronger all the time; in fact, over 100 River Citizens volunteered to do one new thing to show their support for the River in response to last month’s newsletter, The Power of Now.
Watch, it’s only 3 minutes. Be prepared to smile and remember, there are other River Citizens out there–in all 50 states–that just might be watching too.
Your dancing friend (watch the video, you’ll get it),
Annette Anderson, 1 Mississippi Campaign Manager
Trivia Question:
Last month’s newsletter highlighted a few events, including the Clarksdale Film Festival. It featured a film about the Mighty Quapaw Apprenticeship Program and Quapaw Canoe Company.
Which “R” is not in the code of ethics for the Quapaws?
1. Respect for the River
2. Respect for others
3. Respect for possessions
4. Respect for yourself