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Join us for a Night of Storytelling

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.

RSVP for a Night of Storytelling

Ms. Magazine: Capitol Day

In Mississippi, Parents and Community Groups Are Feeding the Kids the State Left Behind.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

“For the past two summers, our organization has stepped in with our own summer cash program to fill the gap. We provided direct cash assistance to families, trusting them to make the best choices for their children.

The results speak for themselves: More than 85 percent of families reported no barriers to accessing enough food, and nearly as many said they were able to buy more protein, fresh fruit and vegetables than ever before.

We’ve shown that this model works. All it would take for Mississippi to extend that success statewide is a governor’s yes, a simple decision to opt into a federal program that would cost the state next to nothing in administrative funds. Yet again this year, Gov. Reeves declined, insisting that summer feeding sites and existing benefits are enough. Families have told us, loud and clear, that they are not.” – Sarah Stripp

WATCH OUR FULL CAPITOL DAY VIDEO HERE ⬇️

Child Care Vouchers

How Mississippi could meet the needs of more than 19,000 families waiting for child care vouchers.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

When she is not caring for her 6-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, Amaya Jones is working full time at Kroger. Jones wants to go back to school in January to study social work, so she can help young women like herself navigate complicated programs designed to help – but which often trap – poor people.

“I know what it’s like to be homeless, to apply for (food stamps) and be denied even though you need it, to be looked at as just a number – I know how it all feels,” Jones said. “I want to help mothers and kids and young women.”

Returning to school will only be possible if Jones regains vouchers she lost in June that made child care affordable, she said. Jones’ family is one of more than 19,000 Mississippi families who lost access to child care vouchers and is now on a growing waitlist after pandemic-era funding that boosted the program dried up, according to the Mississippi Department of Human Services.