Action Communication and Education Reform, Inc.

Mission: Action Communication and Education Reform, also known as Concerned Citizens of Montgomery County, was formed in 1997 to bring parents, students and community together to work to create a first rate, quality educational opportunity for poor and African American families in Montgomery County. Our motto, ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Winona is the county seat, and infamous for the extraordinary beatings administered to civil rights workers, including Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer, in 1962 for entering the white waiting room at the Greyhound bus station. Constituency: The constituency of Action is the African American and Latin/Hispanic community of Montgomery, Webster, Carroll and Grenada counties. The Population of Webster County is (10, 159 77.6% white, 20.9% African Americans, and 1.7% Hispanic or Latino; Carroll County (10, 462- 62.7% white, 36.6% African Americans, and 0.7 Hispanic or Latino; Grenada County (22,809 57.9% white, 40.9% African Americans, and 0.6% Hispanic or Latino; and Montgomery County has approximately 11,935 residents, 54.3% white, 45% of that is African American and .08%. There are 3 major towns within the county Duck Hill, Kilmichael and Winona. Based on 200 statistics, approximately 27% of the residents are below the poverty level. In the county only 55% have high school diplomas, compared with a statewide percentage of 66%, and a national average of 76%. In the county 6% have four years of college, compared with a statewide average of 14% and a national average of 19% . In the city of Winona, 62% have high school diplomas and 12 percent have four years of college. This constituency has been faced with a history of oppressive racism in the county, in which fear, deeply rooted in the culture, is the outstanding obstacle, which impedes the community. At the same time, the grassroots community represents the membership of the organization, sets its agenda and implements the work. Policies for Action are set by its Board of Directors, which consists of thirteen persons, all of who are African Americans from Montgomery County. The gender of the board consists of 4 females and 7 males. The organizational work is performed by volunteers, board members, and 1 full time paid staff members and 2 part-time and 5 youth community organizers who get stipends. The board members are required to go through training to learn to how be accountable for a non-profit 501.C3 business as well as do in kind service work and help to raise funds. Any person who is committed to the principles of the organization and is willing to work to implement the vision can become a member of the organization.