Christy LeGrand, Projects Coordinator for the Missouri Research Corporation at Southeast Missouri State University, and Missy Marshall, Executive Director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, were both recognized recently by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) at their annual conference in Memphis, TN.   They were presented the inaugural “Spirit of Service” award by Pete Johnson, Federal Co-Chair for the DRA and Dr. Carolyn Dahl, Project Leader of the Delta Leadership Institute from University of Alabama.

In 2006, the Missouri Governor’s Office selected Marshall and LeGrand to participate in the Delta Leadership Institute (DLI), a year-long program which focuses on building regional leadership skills among participants from the DRA’s eight-state region.    Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, and Tennessee.  Counties and parishes of each state are federally designated due to poor economic indicators as part of the Delta Regional Authority, in total 252.  Missouri has 29 counties in its southeast quadrant that are so designated.

Each year, 30 to 40 individuals graduate from the institute and are encouraged to become part of the institute’s alum group, called the Delta Leadership Network and continue interaction and project work with their peers.  Marshall and LeGrand helped develop the framework for the alum group and have been active in work with the DRA board and the University of Alabama to seek funding to sustain regional activities. 

Marshall led efforts to establish a new website which will launch in August 2009.  LeGrand will begin as Project Manager in September 2009, helping to establish the alum advisory board and facilitate connection, networking, and project work among members.  Since their graduation in 2007, Marshall and LeGrand have remained active in helping establish the network, and because of their efforts were presented the Spirit of Service Award.

The aim of the DRA is to create an extensive network of involved, regionally-thinking leaders who will help stimulate positive economic and social activity to help the Delta Region keep up with the rest of the nation in education, health, transportation, and economic development.