Mississippi Citizens United for Prosperity (MCUP)

Residents in the small, predominately African American town of Duck Hill, MS couldn’t imagine a rainy day that didn’t result in flooded cars, homes, and businesses. That changed in 2018 with the birth of Mississippi Communities United for Prosperity (MCUP). MCUP’s mission is to drive sustainable change by promoting education, economic development, and collaborative problem-solving. They empower residents with tools, resources, and training, allowing them to transform their environment and advocate for their needs. This involves multi-agency partnerships, implementing gray and green infrastructure, and education about climate change and resilience. They now have a flood-free town, a vibrant youth program, an adopted climate assessment plan, and the Duck Hill Local Food and Economic Development Action Plan. Next up: a community garden, community farm, and a farmers’ market. MCUP’s vision is to replicate success in other communities, fostering leaders who bridge science and community.

MCUP (Mississippi Citizens United for Prosperity) is an organization in Duck Hill, Mississippi, a small town with a predominantly African-American population. Led by Romona Taylor Williams, MCUP unites scientists, educators, and engineers with communities to work on flood mitigation, community partnerships, and sustainability initiatives. In 2018, MCUP launched the ASEEDS (Achieving Sustainability through Education and Economic Development Solutions) program—a multi-agency community partnership promoting sustainability in Duck Hill—whose work has been supported by the US EPA. ASEEDS also started the ASEEDS Creek Rangers initiative, which trains youth in natural resource stewardship. MCUP’s success highlights the need for integrating resident input into public infrastructure. Their model fosters inclusive decision-making, and over the years they have expanded to community engagement in five other counties. MCUP also prioritizes community wealth-building by hiring and contracting locally.

Links

Preventing Next Water Crisis: Mississippi Should Rebuild Infrastructure With Resident Input – Mississippi Free Press, October 2022

Race Matters – Medium, May 2022

Duck Hill MS: Youth vs. Flooding, City Climate Corner Podcast, Interview Creek Ranger Mersie Watkins, and Romona Taylor Williams, Executive Director of Montgomery Citizens United for Prosperity – City Climate Corner, October 2021

Tired of Constant Flooding, Tiny Duck Hill Mississippi Revitalized Their Community by Making it More Resilient – REVITALIZATION, September 2019