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Delta State University awarded $190,000 NEH grant for Delta heritage workshops

Cleveland, MS (01/22/2026) — Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (662) 846-4678

Email: nduff@deltastate.edu

Delta State University awarded $190,000 NEH grant for Delta heritage workshops

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University's Delta Center for Culture and Learning has received a $190,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to host two national residential workshops for K-12 educators.

The program, titled The Most Southern Place on Earth: Music, History, and Culture of the Mississippi Delta, will bring 72 teachers from across the country to Cleveland, Mississippi. Participants will take part in an immersive experience focused on the Delta's traditions, heritage, and cultural legacy.

Project Director Lee Aylward and Delta Center Director Dr. Mandy Truman will lead the workshops. The program is part of NEH's Landmarks of American History and Culture initiative. This initiative supports professional development for teachers through place-based learning.

Educators will explore how the rich heritage of the Mississippi Delta has shaped American history and culture. The workshops will focus on the history of the Civil Rights Movement, the region's agricultural and economic legacy, and the global influence of Delta blues music.

Participants will engage with local scholars, historians, cultural bearers, and community members. They will also visit historic sites and cultural landmarks throughout the region.

"This is a life-changing and transformative workshop," said Dr. Heather Miller, Executive Director of Sponsored Programs and Projects. "Educators return to their classrooms with a deeply meaningful experience to share with their students."

The Delta Center for Culture and Learning has hosted NEH Landmarks workshops for over a decade. It has welcomed hundreds of teachers to experience the Mississippi Delta's history and culture firsthand.

For more information, visit the Delta Center for Culture and Learning website at deltacenterdsu.com/.

Cutline: Educators from around the country participate in the Delta Center for Culture and Learning's The Most Southern Place on Earth workshops, taking knowledge of the Mississippi Delta's cultural heritage back to their classrooms.

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About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 14 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.

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Educators from around the country participate in the Delta Center for Culture and Learning’s The Most Southern Place on Earth workshops, taking knowledge of the Mississippi Delta’s cultural heritage back to their classrooms.

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