On Wednesday the MCJ took each of our groups to communities in the Delta region to provide context for our assigned projects. The perspectives provided by these individuals and the opportunity to see MCJ's staff at work made Wednesday one of the most valuable days of the trip.
One group began the morning with a visit to a coffee shop that came highly recommended. Delta Grinds, the perfect combination of character and caffeine, was just what we needed to start our day! We were fortunate to then spend the morning with members of the community to discuss health insurance and challenges specific to the Delta. Prior to returning to the MCJ to resume our work on our respective projects, we had lunch at the The Crown and enjoyed delicious sandwiches, salads and (the most important part of the meal) a wide selection of freshly baked pies. Saving room for dessert here is highly recommended!
Our second group spent the morning and early afternoon with individuals leading various health initiatives in the Delta. This group was able to visit a historic hospital and learn firsthand how specific challenges are affecting the region. It was clear from these discussions that the MCJ serves as a consummate advocate for the Delta and we were so grateful for the opportunity to participate. Following these discussions, this group was able to enjoy one of the best meals of the trip. The chicken was some of the best any of us have had in a very long time!
After lunch this group was able to drive through different areas of the Delta and gain further insight into the region's rich history!
Both groups spent the rest of the afternoon continuing work on projects for the MCJ and following up on information provided during the morning discussions within the communities.
Mississippi is the birthplace of blues legend B.B. King and, since a museum that commemorates his life's work is located close to MCJ's Indianola office, our group would be remiss if we failed to pay this museum a visit. We left MCJ's Indianola office very thankful for the opportunity to participate in a portion of the valuable work completed. Thank you to the Indianola staff for being so welcoming!
We spent the remainder of our late afternoon/early evening visiting the museum and learning more about B.B. King's early life, his development as a musician and his emergence as an ambassador for spreading blues appreciation to new audiences. The museum has an impressive collection of early images of B.B. King, instruments used throughout his career and clothing worn during famed performances.
After we completed our museum visit, we couldn't help but be excited about B.B. King's development as a legendary artist!
On our way back to our hotel we made sure to stop by a tamale vendor whose compact operation belies the burst of flavor in the food provided. Due to our excitement over the beef tamales and the delectable aroma that emanated from the bags, we elected to use this moment as an opportunity to bond over parked meal consumption. The enjoyment had by all is accurately reflected in the bite captured below. A wonderful way to cap off a great day!
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