MSMS Interns and the Stennis Intitute
This semester the Stennis Institute hosted 3 interns from the Mississippi School for Math and Science (MSMS). Working closely with Stennis staffers Lydia Quarles and Kesha Perry, the students performed separate, independent projects into relevant national and global topics. As part of the elective research class, the students completed residency, writing, and oral components. Of her experience, Senior Rakhee Khambhati of Greenville said that "no matter what the topic or area I researched, I found a way to relate it to my life. For that I am thankful."


From left to right:

Rakhee Khambhati, Senior, Greenville, Mississippi, conducted a global analysis of gendered norms and behavior in the workplace. Next year, Rakhee will attend the United States Naval Academy to study nuclear engineering.

Caitlyn Chambers, Senior, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, performed a longitudinal study examining the presidency and public opinion and how they have influenced the Supreme Court's decisions on the death penalty. Caitlyn will continue her studies at Loyola University in New Orleans.

Florence Otaigbe, Junior, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, examined the United States and its approach to collective security in the wake of the crises in Egypt and Libya. Florence is fielding several offers from top schools around the country.

Dr. Stanlie James to visit MSU
The African American Studies program at Mississippi State is proud to invite you to attend Dr. Stanlie James' lecture and book signing on September 20 at the Colvard Student Union, Room 329. Dr. James will discuss "Black Women and International Human Rights." The lecture begins at 1:30. For more information, contact Linda Miller at 662-325-0587 or aasinfo@aas.msstate.edu.

Click here to view the flyer.

September 13 Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon
The September luncheon will be held on Monday, September 13, 2010 at noon at the University Club in downtown Jackson. The speaker will be Steve Suitts, whose perspective on education is not to miss. Below is his bio. The event is open to the public, however registration is required. Registration deadline is noon, Friday, September 10. To register, simply reply to this e-mail. Cost to attend is $15, payable at the luncheon - make checks payable to Stennis Institute. Complete details can be found on the luncheon Web site at http://stenniscapitolpress.wordpress.com.

Steve Suitts is Vice President of the Southern Education Foundation (www.southerneducation.org), the nation's oldest education foundation which today advances creative solutions to assure fairness and excellence in education. Suitts is author of more than 100 books, articles, and monographs, including several recent SEF publications: The Worst of Times: Children in Extreme Poverty in the South and the Nation (2010); A New Diverse Majority: Students of Color in the South’s Public Schools (2010), A New Majority: Low Income Students in the South’s Public Schools (2007), and Pre-Kindergarten in the South: the Region’s Comparative Advantage in Education (2007).

Suitts served for nearly 18 years as executive director of the Atlanta-based Southern Regional Council, one of the South’s oldest interracial organizations, and has served on the regional board of the National Alliance of Business and the board of directors of SOLINET, the Southeast Library Network, among others.

Suitts was executive producer of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” a 13-hour radio series that won a Peabody Award in 1998. He also has received a Lyndhurst Prize for his dedication to improving the American South. During the last 14 years, Suitts also has been an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of Liberal Arts of Emory University. His book, Hugo Black of Alabama, earned him in 2006 the award as “Georgia Author of the Year” for biography.

State Senator Walter Michel addresses the August Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon on the subject of the Sales Tax Holiday
Click here to view the video courtesy of the Mississippi Business Journal

Dr. Marty Wiseman, Political Analyst and Director of the Stennis Institute of Government, will speak at Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Membership Luncheon August 11
The Partnership's Membership and Major Initiatives Divisions will sponsor a Membership Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11, at the Jackson Hilton. The speaker will be Dr. Marty Wiseman, Director of the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University. Dr. Wiseman will speak on the topic of “Citizen Government in the Twenty-First Century.”

"The increasing interest in government at all levels and the fact that all state and county elections will be held in 2011 combine to make this a very appropriate topic at this time,” according to Andy Taggart, 2010 Vice Chairman for Major Initiatives. “We are looking forward to this event and will include time on the program for a question and answer session with Dr. Wiseman.”

Wiseman’s presentation will include topics such as the influence of social media in the political process, proposed changes to campaign finance, and other current political trends that will influence the 2010 Congressional elections and 2011 state and county elections. Partnership members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about applied politics for the business person.

A brief report on current Partnership activities will be given by President Duane O'Neill.

Registration for this event is $28.00 per person and must be paid prior to the event. Payment may be made by mailing a check to Debi Green, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, P.O. Box 22548, Jackson, MS 39225-2548 or send an e-mail to dgreen@greaterjacksonpartnership.com.

Any Chamber member interested in being a sponsor for this event may call Debi Green. at 601-948-7575. Sponsors will receive four (4) tickets to the luncheon, five (5) minutes on the program, and one display table.
 

Crawford Town Hall Meeting
On July 10, the Stennis Institute of Government (SIG), in partnership with the Mississippi State University Political Science and Public Administration Department (PSPA), hosted the Town of Crawford for a one-day strategic planning meeting. Since 2008 many towns and municipalities across the nation have been faced with significant fiscal challenges, and this is no different for many Mississippi's communities. In light of the declining economic conditions, both SIG and PSPA have dedicated efforts and resources to assisting small towns in managing and seeking resources to offset fiscal and other challenges. The one-day retreat, which consisted of the Mayor, Clerk, the Board of Aldermen, and several residents, joined the Stennis Institute staff to discuss the roles policy making and community relationships play in supplementing declining revenues, in addition to drafting a strategic plan to guide the Town for the next three years.

Presentation

Senator Walter Michel to Address Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon
Mississippi’s second annual sales tax holiday runs Friday and Saturday, July 30 and 31st, a week ahead of similar promotions in neighboring states and right before students return to school. For 48 hours, between a minute after midnight on Friday through midnight Saturday, shoppers won’t be charged the 7 percent state sales tax on clothing and shoes priced under $100 each. Both store owners and customers are eager for the shopping to begin, according to an article in the online edition of the Biloxi-Gulfport SunHerald. Fourteen municipalities have opted not to participate.

Mississippi Senate Economic Development Chairman Walter Michel, sponsor of the sales tax holiday, will address the Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon at noon, August 2, 2010 at the University Club in downtown Jackson. Senator Michel will discuss the sales tax holiday, Mississippi legislative news and other topics of interest. Senator Michel has served in the Mississippi Senate since 1999 and previously served in the Mississippi House of Representatives. He is a native of Jackson and principal in the J. Walter Michel Agency. He received the 2009 Outstanding Senate Legislator from the Mississippi Association of Realtors (R).

Cost to attend is $15 per person. Make checks payable to Stennis Institute. Advance registration is required. To register, either reply to this email, or send an email to phil.hardwick@msstate.edu. More details about the luncheon are available at stenniscapitolpress.wordpress.com.

Coahoma County Small Town Summit
In an historic meeting on March 20, 2010 at the Isle of Capri in Lula, Mississippi, Mayor Patricia Furge of the Town of Lula, Mississippi convened the Coahoma County Small Town Summit presented by the Stennis Institute of Government. Click here to read more about the event.

March Stennis-Capital Press Luncheon
The timing could not have been any better for the topic that was the subject of the March 3, 2010 Stennis-Capitol Press Luncheon. Legislation had been introduced in the Mississippi legislature requiring a “soda tax,” Mississippi continued to retail the most obese state designation and First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to visit the Magnolia State two days later to promote her “Let’s Move” campaign. Consequently, there was heavy press coverage of Stennis Institute Research Associate Judith Phillips’ presentation on her research entitled, Obesity and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: An Overview for Decision-Makers

The following is a sampling of the press coverage:

MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL (Magnolia Marketplace Blog): Phillips released the findings of a report she just completed that looks at some of the facts and figures associated with obesity – more specifically, how much sugar-sweetened drinks contribute to the condition. Click to View Article

NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL: BOBBY HARRISON: Soft drink and tobacco tax comparisons are flawed. Click to View Article

WDAM-TV: State Senator Deborah Dawkins and Representative John Mayo asked the John Stennis Institute of Government to conduct a research study to see if there is a correlation between obesity and soda consumption. Click to View Article

WLBT-TV: (video included) Soda Tax proposed to help offset Mississippi's high obesity rate. Click to View Article
 

SEDI Dates Announced
The dates for the next State Executive Development Institute (SEDI) have been announced. Please check back with us as more information will come available.

MML Small Town Meeting

Each fall the Mississippi Municipal League welcomes public officials from Mississippi's "small towns" for an educational opportunity focused on the needs of Mississippi towns under 2,500 in population. This year, the topic was "Back to Basics", recognizing the many new Mayors and Aldermen who have been elected to serve in Mississippi's small towns in 2009.

Mississippi State's own Dr. P. Edward French, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, was the keynote speaker, speaking on "Managing Change in Small Communities." A number of Stennis staffers presented in the break-out sessions.
 

Presentations from the meeting:
Legal Requirements of Public Meetings
Principles of Municipal Law Enforcement
 

Dr. Marty Wiseman appears at Gautier Council meeting on August 24, 2009  Read Story

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