Springboard to Opportunities
READ JAVONICA’S FULL FEATURE ARTICLE HERE
As costs climb and support systems lag, one Mississippi mother shares what it
takes to raise three children, stay in school and fight for
stability in an economy that isn’t built for families like hers.
THE BIG THREE
2. One of our fellows, Carleen, was recently featured in this MS Today piece regarding challenges to accessing SNAP.
3. We celebrated Women’s History Month throughout all of March. We know it’s essential to lift up the realities Black women are facing in the current economy and workforce. Don’t miss this article from The 19th explaining Black women’s skyrocketing unemployment.
Reminder: Our Annual Night of Storytelling event is almost here! Wednesday April 22nd, 6PM at the Mississippi Museum of Art. RSVP here!
With love,
Team Springboard
A message from our CEO, Aisha Nyandoro, explaining the recent acquittal of officials in the welfare fraud scandal and how this impacts the narrative of low-income families ⬇️
Written and Published by Mississippi Today 3/11/2026
SNAP work requirements stifle access to food for older caregivers and grandchildren, experts say. MS Today spoke to one of our moms, Carleen Hicks, on her experience as a caregiver for her two grandchildren and the time consuming struggle to apply for SNAP.
Hicks, who is 54 and a custodian at Chapel of the Cross Church in Madison, said she’s happily taken on that responsibility, but it can be hard to make ends meet. She previously relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, but the paperwork was confusing and time-consuming. In 2024, she felt she could no longer justify missing work to go to hours-long recertification appointments for the benefits, and fell off the program. As a result, she said, her family eats less fresh produce and meat.
Experts say that versions of Hicks’ story will become more common after newly-expanded federal work requirements took effect in November. Previously, adults over 54 and people who care for children under the age of 18 were exempt. Under the new rules, adults between the age of 55 and 64 and caretakers of children older than 13 must now work 80 hours a month to keep their food benefits. An already-burdened system will become more strained, according to state and national experts who spoke to Mississippi Today.
Work requirements and the red tape that comes with them could disproportionately hurt older caregivers and their families. That’s because older adults are more likely to have fixed incomes, limited access to computers, age-related health problems and care for older children who do not qualify them for the exemption. In Mississippi, 3.3% of children live in grandparent-caregiver households – more than double the national average and one of the highest rates in the country.
Nationwide, family members who step into parental roles save taxpayers and states $10.5 billion by keeping children out of the foster care system. But these families face higher rates of poverty.
Our 6th Annual Night of Storytelling will take place on Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:00 PM. RSVP Today!
Join us for our annual night of story and conversation!
This year’s Night of Storytelling marks a powerful and joyful first. For the first time, the stories shared from the stage will come directly from Springboard youth. Their voices, creativity, and lived experiences will guide the evening, reminding us why we do this work and who we do it for.
We are honored that the evening will be moderated by Jason Reynolds, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and MacArthur Fellow. Jason has received numerous honors, including the Newbery, Printz, Coretta Scott King, NAACP Image, and Kirkus Awards, and served as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2020 to 2022. His work centers young people, truth telling, and imagination, making him a meaningful steward for this moment.
A Night of Storytelling is a celebration of dignity, possibility, and the power of story to shift narratives and how we see families and communities. We hope you will join us for this special evening.
A virtual option is also available if you are unable to attend in-person. The event is free, but please RSVP to let us know you’re coming. If you RSVP for the virtual option, we will send you the livestream link once it is available.
Our monthly highlights from the team here in Jackson, Mississippi
YOU CAN READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER HERE
“We’re also grateful to be reminded that we are not alone in this fight to bring true, family-supportive policies to Mississippi and work toward a state where everyone is able to thrive. We had friends and partners at our own advocacy day and have been showing up for others who are continuing to push legislators to support childcare, SNAP, and other safety net benefits. Our Big Three section ,below features highlights from some of the state advocacy work our partners are doing, and we hope you’ll take some time to learn about the many ways Mississippians are fighting to build stronger, more equitable communities.”
Yours in Service,
Aisha Nyandoro
CEO
SPRINGBOARD SNAPSHOTS ⬇️💚
Our CEO, Aisha Nyandoro, is a 2026 Elevate Prize recipient!
We’re strengthening out fellowships in 2026 and hosted out first big event with a storytelling and media training half-day workshop with our mothers.
We hosted various Valentine’s Day events in our communities. We relaunched our MISS Program which provides mental health and self-care support to our moms.