Blog – The Marks Project

Marks Project Accomplishments in 2020

December 4, 2020 By Andrew Davis

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Marks Project has spent 2020 bringing quality-of-life improvements and opportunities to the residents of Quitman County. As the year comes to a close, we wanted to take the time to review what the Marks Project has been up to over the last 12 months in the areas of recreation, education and job training, and community partnerships.

Education and Job Training

The Quitman County School District moved from an overall F to an A elementary school, a B high school and a C middle school in last year’s rating with the state board of education. The public school system here has been given awards for making the 3rd highest improvement in the state in math and language. This improvement is partly because of programs that the School of Education at the University of Mississippi has helped the Marks Project bring into all three schools in the district to assist with Pre-K4, Middle School Saturday tutoring on the Ole Miss campus, and ACT Prep through efforts initiated by the Marks Project. We are researching all aspects of our next project and seeking assistance from experts in the field to make sure that children born to parents residing in Quitman County will be healthy and prosperous.

We are also working with both Northwest and Coahoma community colleges to continue job training free to the participants at the Quitman County Career Empowerment Center in Marks, which has been interrupted by the pandemic and major renovations with funding the Marks Project obtained from a federally funded grant. We are in constant need of funding for expenses connected with this adult workforce training in areas, such as welding, forklift training, basic computer skills, and GED preparation.

Additional classes will be added as COVID numbers decrease. The Marks Project secured a quarter million dollar grant to renovate the Quitman County Career Center, and we are excited about expanding the workforce training that both Coahoma and Northwest community colleges are providing to Quitman County residents.

electrical wiring job training — *Classes are starting now in Electrical Wiring, Welding, regular and standup Forklift with more classes being added. Call Judy Bland @ 662.609.6399 for more information.*

Recreation

Special thanks to Mayor Joe Shegog, Robert Mehrle and the team of volunteers for their efforts in helping provide Coach Lin Riley and his 49ers a newly sodded field, complete with a goal post and bleachers.

The Marks Project is committed to expanding recreational and fitness opportunities in Quitman County. We reopened the former YOU fitness center and have brought in a number of programs, such as nutrition and community gardening, for our community to consider, in addition to the workout opportunities. Most recently, our focus has been on the completion of the only public park in Quitman County, the Marks City Park. We successfully secured funding, using no tax dollars, and with the community’s assistance, installed two separate play structures for ages 2-5 and 6-12.

Just this month, we completed the last major phase of our park project– a football field for our beloved 49’ers, a county-wide middle school team. This project was a cooperative effort between city, county, and local volunteers who did an amazing job to bring in all the components and shape this field into a beautiful venue for our young athletes and their Coach Lin Riley, who represent our county with dignity and pride. We are seeking funding for nicer restrooms and hopefully a pavilion.

Community Partnerships

Renovations are underway at the Career Empowerment Center!

June 9, 2020 By Andrew Davis

In the spring of 2019, Marks Project launched an ambitious initiative to provide free or low-cost job training to those in Quitman County who want it.

The first phase of the initiative involved getting the word out and determining interest in job training. Partnering with Quitman County, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Coahoma Community College, Marks Project volunteers coordinated classes in screen printing, fork-lift operation, GED, and basic computer skills. During this initial pilot phase, more than 75 individuals completed classes, including 40 local residents who earned industry-recognized certification as fork-lift operators.

The next phase of the initiative involves transforming an abandoned light-manufacturing facility located in Marks into a modern training facility known as the Quitman County Career Empowerment Center. Students and faculty members in the School of Engineering at the University of Mississippi partnered with Marks Project to assess the existing structure and prepare plans for its renovation.

Thanks to an investment of more than $230,000 by the Delta Regional Authority, the renovation of the county-owned facility is now underway. Once completed the renovations will streamline operation with improved heat and air, lighting, and safety. The work is expected to be completed by the fall of 2020.

Classes are on hold while the renovation of the Empowerment Center continues. Plans are underway to reopen the Center in late 2020 following the public health safety guidelines established by the State of Mississippi and local government. A full slate of classes and safety protocols will be announced as soon as possible.

The Marks Project’s Judy Bland is the Margaret Maddox Woman of the Year!

January 22, 2020 By Andrew Davis

This year’s Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi Margaret Maddox Woman of the Year is Judy Bland of Marks, Mississippi.

Judy Bland is one of the earliest volunteers of the , a program dedicated to growing Quitman County, Mississippi by empowering its residents with the resources, education, and skills they need to thrive. Judy combines her deep understanding of the community as well as her untiring work ethic to help the organization and its focus on education, workforce training, and community well-being.

She has been instrumental in adapting several programs in Marks, some of which include Jumpstart, a national early childhood educational program dedicated to helping preschoolers develop language and literacy skills that will prepare them for school; ACT Boot Camp, a five-hour test preparation program for students of Quitman County High School; as well as the Quitman County Career Empowerment Center, which offers free and low-cost job training to the residents of Quitman County. Judy is also a retired Quitman County secondary English teacher.