Riverside Rising, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Mississippi in May 2015. The non-profit organization has a Board of Directors consisting of:
- Jack Coleman, Chair
- Elizabeth Coleman, Board Member
- Board Member – To Be Determined
In the first year of operations, Riverside Rising will hire a program manager, an administrative assistant, and contractual staff to carry out the day-to-day operations and programs of the non-profit.
The Mississippi Delta is a region where people and businesses can grow and thrive because they have access to economic opportunities, cultural experiences, and healthy lifestyles.
Riverside Rising, Inc. will advance Bolivar, Coahoma, Sunflower & Washington counties through innovative approaches that address skills development, business development, cultural heritage, and health & well-being to improve the quality of place and life.
Riverside Rising will focus its efforts on addressing three key areas:
Workforce and Business Development
Train the next generation of the workforce for high demand jobs such as software development
Prepare middle and high school students for adulthood by providing practical classes that teach life skills such as financial literacy
Develop a business incubator within 5 years to support and foster the creation of new businesses
Arts and Culture
Provide meaningful opportunities for people to learn about the history of the Mississippi Delta, with emphasis on the Mississippi River explorers and the first African American to be elected to a full term in the U.S. Senate
Host an artist-in-residence program to invite visual artists from around the world to experience the Mississippi Delta, produce and display visual art, and teach classes
Parks and Recreation, with an emphasis on health and wellness
Create opportunities for people to lead a healthy lifestyle through exercise and outdoor recreation
Develop a unique system of walking, jogging, and biking trails
The co-founders of Riverside Rising firmly believe investing in Rosedale is not enough to change the economic vitality of the Mississippi Delta. Once the project concepts are implemented in Rosedale, Riverside Rising will expand its impact to four counties including:
Population (2010): 35,063
Cities: Cleveland, Rosedale, Mound Bayou, Shaw, Shelby
Median Household Income: $26,005
Race/Ethnicity: 65.8% Black or African American, 32.8% White, 0.5% Hispanic or Latino
Population (2010): 26,151
Cities: Clarksdale
Median Household Income: $28,728
Race/Ethnicity: 75.5% Black or African American, 22.9% White, 1.1% Hispanic or Latino
Population (2010): 29,450
Cities: Indianola, Drew, Moorhead, Ruleville
Median Household Income: $28,556
Race/Ethnicity: 72.9% Black or African American, 25.4% White, 1.4% Hispanic or Latino
Population (2010): 51,137
Cities: Greenville, Hollandale, Leland
Median Household Income: $32,370
Race/Ethnicity: 71.3% Black or African American, 27% White, 1% Hispanic or Latino
