Challenging work hours, transportation, and child care continue to be workforce barriers in the Delta

Tamika Green, a 41-year-old Army veteran, worked with the Cleveland Post Office for nearly 10 years. When she became a mother, the hours became a challenge. She loved her job, but the long hours were not sustainable with her new lifestyle. She knew she needed a different career path.

Green’s mother, who assists Green with child care, stumbled upon a Facebook post describing training programs at Mississippi Delta Community College, and Green knew it was the right next step for her. “I took their carpentry classes, electrical class, and plumbing,” Green said.

Since leaving the post office, Green is pursuing her dream of owning a community pool in addition to working at a bank. She is converting the former Cleveland Recreation Center into Blue Heaven Pool for community use. “I didn’t take those courses lightly,” she said. “I’ve saved a lot of money because I can fix things myself rather than having to hire somebody.” Green’s experience reflects a broader challenge facing many working parents in the Mississippi Delta.

Foundation for the Mid South recognized common workforce challenges and awarded $550,000 in grant funding to 11 organizations working to solve these barriers to employment, including childcare, transportation, and access to training.  Grant recipients include organizations such as 180 Career Center, The Bean Path, Delta Compass, Dream Innovations, Inc., Deep South Today, Holmes County Consolidated School District, Humphreys County School District, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Metro Booming Training Academy, Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice, and Sipp Culture. This story is part of a sponsored series supported by the Foundation for the Mid South’s Moving Mississippians Forward Through Employment initiative.