“Living in Mississippi taught me how much wisdom exists in communities that are often underestimated. That understanding has shaped every aspect of my work.”
“Black women voters in Mississippi areoffering one of the clearest pictures ofwhere America is failing — and what itwould take to build something rooted in joyand dignity.“
This poll tells two stories at once: Black women in Mississippi have a vision of wholeness for the future, and they have a precise understanding of what is breaking that possibility now.
This poll is part of The Highland Project’s multi-year research effort with brilliant corners Research and Strategies to listen to Black women’s economic, civic, and well-being perspectives and translate that wisdom into a broader vision of multigenerational wealth and opportunity. Across years of national polling, Black women have consistently named that wealth is not only what people earn or own. It is whether families and communities have the conditions to live fully — with financial freedom, abundant choice, belonging, and thriving health. The Mississippi findings deepen that lesson. Black women in Mississippi are naming what wholeness requires and what is breaking it: economic strain, public systems that too often fail to meet people with dignity, and a civic landscape where participation should not be mistaken for satisfaction. Their responses remind us that civic life, economic life, family life, and wellbeing are deeply connected — and that systems cannot earn trust by treating them as separate.
Black Women in Mississippi Are Asking for Breathing Room
Black women across Mississippi are carrying extraordinary responsibilities while navigating systems that often leave them exhausted, stressed, and unseen. This statewide survey reveals a simple but urgent truth: families are not asking for excess. They are asking for stability, dignity, and the ability to experience joy. The findings show that joy is not separate from economic policy or financial well-being. For many Black women, joy is deeply connected to peace of mind, time for themselves, rest, and the ability to care for loved ones without constant financial strain. The research also challenges harmful narratives about poverty and assistance programs. Black women overwhelmingly describe financial hardship not as personal failure, but as the result of rising costs, inadequate wages, and systems that often make getting help feel humiliating and exhausting.
“Continuing this work right now is especially urgent because we understand that the affordability crisis is among us. We know that everything costs more.”
Springboard to Opportunities celebrates the launch of the 7th cohort of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT) today. As the longest-running guaranteed income program in the United States, MMT continues to serve as a national model for economic justice, with this newest cohort of approximately 100 Black mothers receiving their first payments of $1,000 monthly for a year on May 15th. This year’s launch marks a pivotal evolution for the program. Beyond direct cash support, this cohort introduces a transformative peer-support initiative where program alumni serve as paid facilitators, fostering connection, mutual support and robust social capital among recipients. At a time when many families face critical cuts to essential services like SNAP and Medicaid, MMT offers a proven, consistent economic support that centers trust. An alumni study of former recipients found profound intangible benefits unmatched in other economic policies, including 78 percent of mothers feeling more confident in achieving their goals and 80 percent more hopeful about their children’s futures.
“We’ve always said that Magnolia Mother’s Trust is about more than direct cash — it’s about changing the narrative around who deserves to thrive and what real support looks like.This next phase is about taking what we’ve learned and sharpening it into a model that policymakers can’t ignore. This is how we turn proof of concept into policy” – CEO, Aisha Nyandoro
Last month, Springboard to Opportunities gathered at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson for our Night of Storytelling — a community celebration we have made an annual tradition of.
For the first time, we featured the kids of Magnolia Mother’s Trust recipients who showed a room full of adults how smart, powerful and deeply insightful they are.
We were especially grateful to have New York Times bestselling young adult author Jason Reynolds as a facilitator. He met the kids with respect and deep care, creating space for them to have a brilliant conversation about their experiences and big plans for the future.
At Springboard, we believe storytelling is a form of power; and that true change comes from centering people over pundits. Thank you to everyone who joined us in sharing the joy of working toward brighter days while celebrating the wins big and small, and above all — always being rooted in community.
Huge shoutout to our entire team for helping bringing this night to life with such care!
Watch our video recap from this event and listen closely for some highlights from each of our youth storytellers. John, Kentavius, and Tamya bravely showed up and spoke with confidence. We are so proud of each of them!
