McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement

aura Martin, M Partner director and associate director of the Grisham-McLean Institute, says that the university plays the role of an 'anchor institution' in the regional economy. Photo by Srijita Chattopadhyay/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services

New Phase of Community Partnership Program: Oxford

Projects include outreach to Spanish-speaking community, strengthening food security initiatives FEBRUARY 13, 2024 The University of Mississippi is partnering with the city of Oxford on a new phase of the M Partner program that aims to align university resources with city priorities to improve quality of life for all residents. “The university is grateful to […]

University Partners with Local High Schools to Monitor Water Quality

Six north Mississippi high schools to test community water, engage in research OCTOBER 29, 2023 BY CLARA TURNAGE The University of Mississippi is partnering with north Mississippi schools this year to offer enrichment about water quality and citizen science projects around water testing in the community. The Environmental Protection Agency is funding the project with […]

Community Partnership Brings Fresh Food Options to Campus

University Joins local organizations to provide fresh, locally-sourced produce OCTOBER 21, 2023 BY EDWIN B. SMITH Healthy food met hearty appetites at the corner of Business Row and Dormitory Row on Thursday (Oct. 19) as The Farmstand made its debut on the University of Mississippi campus. The stand is the result of an innovative partnership between the […]

Leadership Boot Camp Offers UM College Experience to Gulf Coast

Trent Lott Leadership Institute offers workshops to students in Gulfport JULY 24, 2023 BY CLARA TURNAGE The Trent Lott Leadership Institute took the University of Mississippi college experience to the Gulf Coast last week as a part of the annual Pathways to Leadership Conference. The conference, held July 9-11 in Gulfport, is a leadership boot […]

Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

University Welcomes 25 Mandela Washington Scholars to Campus

Jackson State University brings fellows to UM to talk leadership, tour facilities JULY 23, 2023 BY STAFF REPORT Twenty-five young leaders and scholars from across Africa toured the University of Mississippi campus this week as a part of the ninth annual Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. “It was a privilege to witness firsthand […]

his summer, a group of eight high school students from Mississippi are participating in the “Building Community Change in the Mississippi Delta” track of the Pre-College Summer Program. As part of the program, they are taking CEL 210: Introduction to Community Engaged Leadership, in which they develop a proposal for a community project. Photo by Kevin Bain/The University of Mississippi Marketing Communications

Mississippi High School Students Study Leadership, Community at UM

Eight rising seniors learn about community engagement, leadership in UM Summer College JUNE 29, 2023 BY CLARA TURNAGE Eight Mississippi high school students are studying ways to help their communities this summer as a part of the University of Mississippi Summer College for High School Students program, “Building Community Change in the Mississippi Delta.” The […]

M Partner Celebrates Successes in Ecru and Pontotoc

Second phase of place-based initiative improves quality of life in partner communities JUNE 26, 2023 BY STAFF REPORT A University of Mississippi community engagement program is celebrating its latest string of successes in two Pontotoc County towns. M Partner, a place-based initiative of the Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement, connects university resources […]

Oxford Resource Fair Set for June 17

Planners to provide information on housing, education and wellness JUNE 11, 2023 BY ERIN GARRETT On Saturday (June 17), more than 25 community and University of Mississippi organizations will partner to provide local residents with information about housing, education, wellness and financial counseling resources in the area. The Oxford Resource Fair is scheduled for 10 […]

North Mississippi VISTA Project Explores Civil Rights Legacy

Members make connections during experiential learning trip to the Delta APRIL 23, 2023 BY STAFF REPORT As they begin yearlong terms of service, members of the North Mississippi VISTA Project visited sites in the Mississippi Delta to build relationships among the group and make conceptual connections around poverty alleviation and its connection to racial justice and civil […]

Jamarcus Brown (second from left) engages youth from the Boys of Girls Club of Lexington

North Mississippi VISTA Project Persists in Mission to End Poverty

Grisham-McLean Institute recruiting members to fight poverty through education MARCH 9, 2023 BY DAYTON ASHBY The federal AmeriCorps agency has renewed national service grant funding for the Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement at the University of Mississippi. This continues a 12-year investment toward alleviating poverty through the North Mississippi VISTA Project. The […]