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CLI Event: Planning and Development District Services – 12/1/21

HOPE is honored to present Allyson Denson, Director of Community Development, South Delta Planning & Development District.  Allyson will provide information on programs and assistance provided by PDD specialists to local units of governments.

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Speaker Information

Allyson DensonAllyson Denson - CLI Presenter
Director of Community Development
South Delta Planning & Development District

Allyson is originally from Newton, MS and attended the University of Mississippi where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity for Women. She later transferred to Delta State University and graduated with a BBA (’85) and a MBA (’86). After graduation, Allyson worked in insurance, banking, education and the catfish industry; and in March 1989, she began her tenure with South Delta Planning & Development District as a Planner. 

She was promoted to her current position of Director of Community Development in 1992. While at SDPDD, Allyson has had the opportunity to work on a number of interesting and innovative projects including the All-weather Intermodal Transfer Facility at the Port of Greenville, the land expansion project at the Port of Rosedale, the Grammy Museum in Cleveland, and the B. B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola just to name a few. Allyson has also received a number of Innovation Awards from the National Association of Development Organizations. Allyson received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council.

 
Gloria DickersonGloria Dickerson - CLI Presenter
CEO
We2gether Creating Change
 
Gloria Dickerson is the CEO and founder of We2gether Creating Change, a social change community based organization headquartered in the Mississippi Delta in Drew, MS. She retired from her work as a financial management professional and a program director in philanthropy in 2009 and returned to her home town with a mission to be a change agent to transform low income socially disadvantaged communities from perceived places of poverty, low skills, and despair to communities of prosperity, abundant skills, and hope.
 
Her focus is on holistic solutions, in which the communities learn how to create a path to unlimited possibilities, in spite of socio-economic circumstances. Her vision is that all residents will have access to affordable housing; healthy food; health care and prevention; recreation; work and learning opportunities that will enable them to lift themselves up, build skills, and become mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually well.