-01.png)
Today we celebrate the culmination of the 2nd Delta Roots Festival held on June 10, 2023, at the Ward Recreation Center in Greenville, MS. This year we switched things up a bit by holding a full day of free activities, including yoga, Zumba, line dancing, kickboxing, body fitness, Gyrokinesis, meditation, and a community dinner. Recognizing the need for long-term disaster recovery support after the March 2023 tornadoes, we asked participants for small donations, if they were able to contribute. Through their donations, we were able to contribute $350 to the Community Foundation of Washington County – South Delta Disaster Recovery Fund.
We want to thank everyone that helped to make this year’s festival a success. Again, in consideration of the long-term need to support tornado disaster recovery, we didn’t seek financial support from sponsors. However, they generously provided in-kind contributions, which allowed us to carry on the festival without a hitch. Thank you to the City of Greenville, City of Greenville Parks & Recreation, GOSPA, Jesse’s Cleaning Supplies & Services, Washington County Board of Supervisors Courthouse, and Three Blessings Yoga Farm & Wellness Center. More thanks and highlights from the festival are below.
Much thanks to Benita Rivera for creating our flyer, a second year in a row.
A morning walk was not deterred by the rain. With music playing, participants walked around the gym several times to get us started. And Mayor Errick D. Simmons stopped by to say hello.
Much gratitude is extended to all the wellness practitioners: Kickboxing with Jasmine Styles/JStyles Fitness; Move It To Lose It Dance with Gilda Sanford/Delta Divas/DAPS Line Dancers; Gentle Restorative Yoga with Ellen Harris/Three Blessings Yoga Farm & Wellness Center; Zumba with Cassandra Atley/Zumba Dance Fitness; Body Basic Fitness with Kenneth Joseph/B2Bfitness; Gyrokinesis with Jing Rosella; and Wellness Meditation with Thishya Perera.
Special thanks to Myrtis Bailey, who covered our registration table the entire time. Our vendors, Sheila Howard/Ra Natural Juices and Jackie Brown/Kulture Life did not disappoint.
Everyone enjoyed the community dinner. A Spoon Above Catering provided an excellent, healthful, beautifully presented dinner meal.
Lljuana Weir came back this year and provided live entertainment throughout the community dinner and inspired folks to get up and dance. We were having so much fun, no one took pictures!
Last but not least, special thanks to folks that took photos: Kyla Rice, Essie Patterson, Thishya Perera, and me (Ellen Harris). Our hearts are full of gratitude for everyone’s support, and we look forward to Delta Roots Festival 2024 – Ramping up Our Outreach Toward promoting Self-care in the MS Delta!