It is amazing to realize that the vision of Natchez United began merely five short months ago! In this brief period, with the support of so many in the community, the vision has grown into some exciting ideas for supporting the education, economy and engagement of the Natchez-Adams County community. After all, it is the role of education to perpetuate the values of a community to increase the success for all.

So many have contributed to this mission:

• A considerable number of our faith-based leaders have volunteered their time, encouragement and prayers to our common request for healing of the community and guidance of our leaders. These prayers are being answered daily as we see a genuine concern, compassion and respect growing between some of the most unlikely individuals and groups in the area. The conscious and voluntary decisions to come together and respectfully hear each other’s concerns and convictions has been blessings to behold!
• Private citizens, business owners, parents, teachers and philanthropists have taken opportunities to join in Monday night prayer times as well as Tuesday night community forums to hear and contribute to the brainstorming and conversation of ‘what could be’ in our schools and across our community. They have been blatantly honest in their concerns, yet extremely positive in their hopes and aspirations for supporting a renewal of the schools, the economy and the engagement of all.
• Elected and appointed officials have taken time from their busy schedules to join us to listen and consider some of the ideas as well as to contribute to the recommendations of improving and expanding our educational opportunities. This has included the mayor, city alderpersons, county supervisors, school board members, district and private school administrators and community/service organizations. All have shared the common theme of better schools, stronger community and inclusive collaboration.

We are indeed thankful for the overwhelmingly positive verbal support that has been consistently rendered to our organization as well as the monetary contributions that have been made to support the Natchez-Adams County Educational Development (NACED) Foundation. Some very special thanks go to the generous community benefactors who have graciously funded the efforts as well as the development of the NACED Foundation to initiate the support of such initiatives as the Covey 7 Habits programs, the Career Explorer Clubs and more programs that are in the pipeline. This collaboration and generosity is a glowing example of Covey’s 6th habit of ‘synergy.’

As we have mentioned, it is our hope that the community will also find ways to incorporate Covey’s 7 Habits programs in the school and with the families of our students. We are very happy to invite all who are interested to join us next Tuesday night, Dec. 5, as our regional representative from Franklin-Covey will be with us at our community meeting. He is excited about joining us to provide more explanation for the programs and to answer any questions that anyone may have. We believe that this will be a productive meeting as the company prepares to support us.

• Community Prayers for Natchez  at 7 p.m. Mondays at the Natchez Grand Hotel
• Community Meeting to Support Natchez at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Natchez Grand Hotel
• Open Mic Night to Engage Natchez at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Natchez Brewing Company.

And like our Facebook Group & Page for Updates on our efforts!
Dr. Marvin Jeter is an educational consultant and Natchez United member.