Ducks and people. You begin comparing male and female ducks to us human counterparts, and you will find a drastic difference. And I’m not referring to our non-webbed feet and wings. One cold morning, we bundled ourselves up in warm jackets and began the one-mile walking trail that encircled a little local lake. Outdoors walking versus an exercise machine in a stuffy hotel exercise room? No contest. As we walked, we watched a male and female duck gliding contentedly around their watery home. And I began noticing some real differences between us and them. The male duck was absolutely gorgeous. His head was a deep beautiful green, his breast glinted bright red in the sunlight, and his back was covered in blue green feathers. Oh yeah, one good-lookin’ male. God sure guaranteed he would attract the attention of a female. Ah. Now, the female. The one swimming beside this gleaming, glossy, attention-garnering male. Well, she was the exact opposite. No spark of deep jewel tones anywhere. Drab, mousy-colored shades of brown, buff and black feathers covered her head and body. Not exactly the stuff of dreams for the average human female, who usually likes to be attractive as possible. And yet, that was exactly how God made this female duck, and He called her perfect. So. My tongue-in-cheek question is this; Why in the world do many human females decide, unlike the female duck, to do everything possible to be gorgeous? Or maybe we don’t decide this at all, maybe it was put in our DNA by our Creator. Our Creator: “I’m gonna create human ladies so that from the day they hit puberty, a lot of them are gonna glance in the mirror and gasp, “Oh my gosh, I am so plain! My hair color is so ugly! And this face! I have got to get lipstick, and eyeshadow, and blush, and mascara, and eyeliner, or I can never step foot out of this house again!” Oh, I know, some are not born with that particular gene that makes women want to ‘gussie up.’ Those ladies are totally at peace with the au natural image looking back at them in the mirror every day. Neither way is wrong or right. It is simply a matter of being true to yourself, to what you enjoy. But in whichever category you land, Gussie or non-Gussie, I encourage you – love being you. There will never be another you. Your Creator made you and said, “For all eternity, I am totally happy and content with having only one of that particular lady.” So, whether you are one who loves constantly changing styles in clothes and makeup, or are just the opposite - be confident in being YOU. Happy Mother’s Day to all the gussied-up moms and the al natural moms among us.

United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced The National Science Foundation has awarded $500,000 to Jackson State University. This project, entitled "Excellence in Research: Spontaneous Nucleation Strategy for High-Quality Perovskite Films" is under the direction of Dai Qilin. This Excellence in Research (EiR) project addresses the use of volatile solvents to prepare high-efficiency perovskite solar cells by a non-antisolvent method. The proposed research method exhibits significant potential in the fabrication of high-quality perovskite films because the film growth is caused by solvent volatilization via a spontaneously and simultaneously supersaturated nucleation strategy. For more information call Dai Qilin at (601)979-2008.

By Kara Kimbrough Retracting last week's statement proclaiming spring is the perfect time to grill may be necessary. When temperatures rose to the mid-80s this week, all pleasant grilling conditions disappeared. In my defense, technically, it is still spring. Despite the heat, Memorial Day is on the way whether we're prepared for it or not. And we still have to eat. My only advice: serving cool, fresh salads are one way to beat the heat and keep things light at any Memorial Day meal, regardless of the temperature. When it comes to potato salad, nothing compares to Mama Hamil's creamy, chunky version. Thankfully, the popular Madison family-style restaurant offers large containers of its delicious salad for take-out. If you'd prefer to make it yourself, drop me an email and I'll send a recipe similar to theirs. Here are the recipes for three other favorite salads, guaranteed to keep your Memorial Day dining cool, light and delicious. Totally Easy Tortellini Salad 2 (14-ounce) packages frozen cheese tortellini 2 bell peppers (1 green, 1 red), diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained 1 (8-ounce) bottle creamy Caesar salad dressing Prepare tortellini according to package directions and drain. Rinse with cold water, drain and chill. Combine tortellini, bell peppers, celery, artichoke hearts and dressing in large bowl. Add ground black pepper and other seasonings to taste. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Marinated Corn Salad 3 (15-ounce) can shoepeg or whole kernel corn, drained 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 Roma tomatoes, diced 1 (8-ounce) bottle Italian dressing In a bowl with a lid, combine vegetables, then pour in bottle of dressing. Close container and shake well. Refrigerate overnight or at least several hours before serving. Seafood Salad Extraordinaire 2 cups cooked seafood (shrimp, crabmeat (can use imitation) or a combination of both 1/2 cup French dressing (more to taste) 1-1/2 freshly finely grated onion 1/2 cup finely grated green pepper 1/2 cup finely grated celery 1 tablespoon fresh dill 2 teaspoons lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 cup mayonnaise In a large bowl, combine seafood with all ingredients except mayonnaise and eggs. Mix well and refrigerate 30 minutes. Stir in mayo and chill for another 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver The Guardians of the Galaxy were the goofballs of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before “everyone” wanted to be the goofballs of the MCU. The first film from 2014 pulled off the unlikely feat of introducing five new, disparate, uniquely funny heroes and making fans care about all of them. The original lineup was human Peter “Star-Lord” Quill (Chris Pratt), the anthropomorphic Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper), living tree Groot (Vin Diesel), green assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and blue powerhouse Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). Since then, the team has taken on Quill’s half-sister Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Gamora’s adoptive sister Nebula (Karen Gillen), displaced pirate Kraglin (Sean Gunn), and even Soviet space dog Cosmo (Maria Bakalova). They also lost Gamora at the hands of her own adoptive father Thanos, but a past version of the character traveled through time, so she’s still around, but doesn’t remember being part of the team, nor does she want to be. The new adventure kicks off when Rocket is attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), the newly-created “son” of the vindictive High Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) of the Sovereign race, who wants revenge on Rocket for stealing from her back in “Vol. 2.” And Adam just goes right on the attack, driving the small target through a wall at first sight. It’s a nice change of pace from recent MCU outings where the villain tries to introduce themselves dramatically and the hero makes fun of them (looking at you, M.O.D.A.K.). Rocket can’t be healed without information about his artificial biology, so Star-Lord leads a mission to his furry friend’s planet of origin to steal his records. Gamora, now a space pirate, comes along, but only because she’s promised a fee. Star-Lord knows the mission is about helping Rocket, but he can’t help but get distracted by the possibility that spending time with Gamora will make her fall in love with him again. She’s not receptive to the idea. Rocket, meanwhile, is forced to confront his traumatic past through a series of coma dreams. He started off as a normal, non-talking raccoon, but was given a series of painful technological upgrades by the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) as part of an effort to create a sort of master race. He was best friends with his fellow tortured test subjects, otter Lylla (Linda Cardellini), walrus Teefs (Asim Chaudhry), and rabbit Floor (Michaela Hoover). The team made a pact to stay together, and we haven’t seen these other characters before, so… don’t get too attached to them in these flashbacks. Ah, but how can you not? That High Evolutionary is as sick and cruel as he is megalomaniacal. He’s the kind of heel I want to see kept alive in the MCU just so he can be punished more down the line. The Rocket scenes and later ones with the High Evolutionary’s exploits are true tear-jerkers, but the tone, as always, is mostly humorous. I got some good laughs out of Mantis expressing shock at how long humans live, Star-Lord failing to sweet-talk a receptionist, and Drax negotiating the number of people he can kill on the mission. It all adds up to a highly entertaining first two-thirds. Then I started feeling the length of the movie: the jokes got less funny, the characters and their individual storylines got too crowded and confusing, and the movie certainly wasn’t retaining its appeal with its visually-mushy, commonplace-for-MCU action scenes. After a string of disappointments, the MCU has given us a decent outing with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” but I’m still waiting for that special movie that reminds me of why it’s the biggest franchise in the (known) galaxy. Grade: B- “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, strong language (including the MCU’s first unbleeped F-bomb, which I think is wasted here), suggestive/drug references and thematic elements. Its running time is 150 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Susie and her older sister went for a walk on the country road near her home. As they stepped onto the arched bridge that spanned a rushing creek, Susie stopped midstride. Her sister, not realizing she was now alone on the bridge, just kept walking and talking about the grim problems they each faced in life. Susie had brought along a long rope with one end tied securely around her waist, the rest looped over her shoulder. Taking the rope in her hands, she walked up to her sister and held out the other end of the long rope. “Here, hold this for me,” she said glumly. Not a word of explanation, just the short, terse request. When the other woman reached out in surprise and took the rope end, Susie turned on her heel and walked over to the side of the bridge. She climbed up on the short railing as her sister watched in confusion. And then, before her sister could react to what she was seeing, Susie simply leaned forward and fell as far the rope around her waist would allow. As she dangled there in mid-air, high above the foaming water and huge boulders, her sister rushed to the railing, screaming in panic for Susie. She struggled to not let Susie fall to her death, but the rope was slowly slipping thru her hands and creating deep, painful burns. Short of breath, and terrified she couldn’t hold on much longer, the older sister screamed “Susie, what are you doing?!!!” But Susie wasn’t struggling or pleading for help, she was just calmly and limply hanging there. She then looked up and said quietly, “Just hold the rope for me, sis. Just hold the rope.” No explanation, just, “Hold the rope, sis. Just hold on to the rope.” Inexplicable behavior, isn’t it? But if you have ever found yourself in a relationship with someone who has decided to figuratively hand you one end of their rope, leap over the side of the bridge and just simply hang there – then you can identify with the older sister. The Susie in your life has made you the keeper of her rope and refuses to help herself. ‘Trapped’ doesn’t even begin to describe your feelings. You know exactly how that sister felt. So what do you do, when your Susie is just hanging out and you are hanging on for dear life – with deepening burns on your hands? You’re feeling like you can’t just walk away and live your life, ‘cause you have to stand there - holding her rope. Realize that this situation is what your Susie has chosen. Realize you are not accountable for her predicament - she is. Realize you have the right, and the responsibility to tell her that you will no longer hold her rope. Make your Susie – not you - take responsibility for the choices and lifestyle that she picked. Choices. We all make them, good and bad..

By Tanisha Renae I am excited to announce that my sister and I have established The Vera Jean Walton Singleton Memorial Scholarship Foundation, in honor of our beloved mother. It is a way for us to honor her memory and give back to the community that raised her and us. The scholarship will be awarded to two (2) deserving students who meet the requirements listed below and complete the application in its entirety, scan QR code for application and details.

Come and join us at Ashbury U.M. Church on Saturday, April 29, 2023, for a prayer breakfast. The church is located at 210 Bolton-Raymond Road in Bolton, MS. The breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM. Then on Thursday, May 4, 2023, join us in the parking lot of the Bolton City Hall for a National Day of Prayer. The City Hall is located at 202 Raymond-Bolton Road in Bolton, MS. The prayer service will begin at 12:20 PM. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside of City Hall. Face mask are encouraged, but not required. Also donations to the church would be greatly appreciated.

By Kara Kimbrough If Americans can start decorating for Christmas in October, there’s no reason we can’t begin planning for Memorial Day. In all actuality, May 29 and the accompanying long weekend for many will be here before we know it. There’s just something about the first holiday of summer – Memorial Day - demands an outdoor cookout. And here in the south, we know that grilling gets a little challenging as temperatures soar during summer months. So, that first weekend of grilling is really the best. First, a history lesson...and here's something we can all agree was a great Congressional act. In 1971, Congress established Memorial Day on the last Monday of May to honor Americans who served and sacrificed their lives for our freedom. I have to remind myself that Memorial Day is not really about burgers and homemade ice cream – it’s about remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. However, we still have to eat – and eat Americans do, spending over $500 million annually (and probably more this year due to food prices) on Memorial Day meal supplies. Besides enjoying a delicious burger with all of the trimmings, keeping family and friends safe and healthy is a major goal of anyone hosting a backyard cookout. Here are a few tips from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to remember before striking up the grill: 1. Prevent grill fire flare-ups and excess smoke formation by grilling by trimming any excess fat from meat and poultry. 2. Marinades add flavor to meat and poultry and can tenderize less tender cuts of meat. Marinades with little or no sugar may help protect meat from charring and have been shown to reduce HCA formation. Before cooking, remove meat from marinade and pat dry to promote even browning. Avoid sugar glazes and sauces, if possible, as they often cause meat to burn. 3. Use medium heat while cooking to ensure delicious, flavorful meat. High heat can overcook or char the outside of meat while the interior remains underdone. 4. Cook burgers to medium (160°F) doneness, until no longer pink in the center and juices are clear. Insert an instant-read thermometer horizontally into the side of burgers to check doneness. Place the thermometer in the thickest part or center of the burger. 5. Turn beef occasionally for even cooking and browning. Use a spatula to turn burgers. Do not press, flatten or pierce the meat — flavorful juices will be lost. Instead of trying one of the fancier burger versions featured in every magazine and website this month, I’ll stick with The Great American Hamburger from Steve Raichlen's "The Barbecue! Bible.” I’m also including my favorite marinade for any type of meat, but especially steaks. Some of you will remember the Steak and Ale restaurant in Jackson from many years ago as "the" steakhouse. Their French onion soup was also legendary. Getting their famous marinade was a real treat. As Memorial Day approaches, I’ll share my favorite sides, salads and desserts. The Great American Hamburger For the Burgers 2 ¼ pounds ground round, chuck, or sirloin 6 slices (1/2 inch thick) Vidalia or other sweet onion (optional) 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, or 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 hamburger buns For the Toppings--Any or All Iceberg lettuce leaves Sliced ripe tomatoes Sliced dill pickles or sweet pickles Cooked bacon (2 slices per burger) Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayonnaise Step 1: Divide the meat into six equal portions. Lightly wet your hands with cold water, then form each portion of meat into a round patty, 4 inches across and of an even thickness. Step 2: Set up the grill for direct cooking and preheat to high. Step 3: When ready to cook, brush and oil the grill grate. Step 4: If using onion slices, brush them on both sides with melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Place the onion on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate. Step 5: Brush one side of the meat patties lightly with melted butter and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the burgers, buttered side down, on the hot grate and grill until the bottoms are nicely browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Brush the tops lightly with some of the melted butter and season them with salt and pepper. Using a spatula, turn the burgers and grill until they are browned and cooked to taste, 4 to 5 minutes longer for medium. Meanwhile, brush the cut sides of the buns with the remaining melted butter and toast them, cut sides down, on the grill during the last 2 minutes the burgers cook. Step 6: Set out the toppings. Put the burgers and onion slices on buns and serve. Recipe from Steven Raichlen's The Barbecue! Bible Steak and Ale Meat Marinade (copycat version) 3 1/2 cups pineapple juice 1 cup soy sauce 1 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 3/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons Garlic, minced fine Simply mix all together. You can let the meat marinate up to 24 hours. Recommended for grilling pan-frying of meat of your choice. Add a little bit of butter to the pan if you are going to cook it in a skillet.

By Bob Garver It’s hard to believe that the new big-screen adaptation of the classic Judy Blume novel “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” made only $6.8 million at the domestic box office this past weekend. The theater where I saw the movie was more crowded than usual, and the audience clearly liked it to the point where there was applause at the end. I know that the film’s female-centric subject matter can be off-putting to male audiences, but this movie didn’t make a fifth of what “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” made in its fifth weekend. The blockbuster filled with eye candy was always going to steamroll this relatively quiet effort, but I would like to see this movie do better because it is the superior film. Abby Ryder Fortson stars (and nuts to any advertising that says that Rachel McAdams is the star) as Margaret Simon, a sixth-grader in the 1970’s. Her world is turned upside-down when her parents (McAdams and Benny Safdie) announce that the family is moving from New York City to the New Jersey suburbs. Fortunately, it’s easy for Margaret to make friends with attention-crazy neighbor Nancy (Elle Graham) and her clique that also includes Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer) and Janie (Amari Price). Unfortunately, that’s about the only thing that’s easy for Margaret, because sixth grade is the year when things really start to get dramatic for preteens. Margaret does her best to navigate this new world of social and biological challenges. She thinks she can cruise through it with the help of her friends, and they help to a degree, but since they’re all equally confused, they’re only so much help to one another. She’s also thrown a curve in the form of spiritual challenges. She recognizes a need to pray to a higher power, but is unsure about what role religion should play in her life. Her parents have a gripe with organized religion due to some disturbing family history, but she considers Judaism with her grandmother (Kathy Bates), Protestantism with Nancy, and even Catholicism after she sees her classmate Laura (Isol Young) go to confession. By the way, this movie (though I suppose the book did it first) could have gone the easy route of turning the imposing, rapidly-developing Laura into a bully, but it’s subversive and intelligent enough to force Margaret to confront the realization that she and her friends are the ones doing the bullying. The movie moves along at a pretty good clip, getting in a lot of milestones both on the calendar and in life. In fact, sometimes it moves a little too fast, like it’s skipping some things. I feel like there’s a scene missing where there’s a falling-out with the group of friends, as evidenced by a scene where Margaret and Janie have fun at a dance while Nancy can only watch from afar with an inattentive Gretchen. Also, I could tell I was supposed to like the girls’ nervous teacher (Echo Kellum), and Margaret goes out of her way to compliment him at the end of the school year, but based on what I’d seen of the character, it felt unearned. Maybe a scene was cut, or maybe something didn’t make it from page to screen, but the guy never struck me as a particularly good teacher. I know I’m skipping over many story points crucial to “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” including the well-known, potentially-uncomfortable women’s health elements. To be clear, these elements are prominently in the movie and usually handled with more sensitivity than I could possibly do justice. But the movie is so much more than that. It’s thoughtful and touching and very, very funny, especially when Kathy Bates is involved. It contains tremendous performances, especially by Abby Ryder Fortson and Rachel McAdams. Most importantly, it’s the best thing playing in theaters right now and it could use a boost in ticket sales. Grade: B “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving sexual education and some suggestive material. Its running time is 106 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

By Mika Hartman “Our children are worthy of EQUITABLE SPACE in this world. This is non-negotiable.” -Heather Avis of The Lucky Few Podcast This week my family had the honor of using our voices for needed change. We traveled to Washington D.C.; alongside National Down Syndrome Society, National Down Syndrome Congress, GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation and more than 350 advocates, we took on Capitol Hill Day. Moms, dads, brothers, sisters, family, friends… you name it, they showed up and demanded to be heard. Medical advancements and early intervention therapies have moved lives and abilities forward, while our laws have remained the same; outdated and discriminative. Our very busy day with back to back meetings even permitted us to use the underground tunnels to make all our meetings on time. This day will always bring joy. It will be one I talk about to my family for the rest of my life. I think the most amazing takeaway is that my 15 year old daughter, Henley, learned her voice matters. She spoke with Congressman Mike Ezell. Henley shared her concerns; she understands that Hudson will likely outlive her dad and me, that her future will one day require her support in all ways. She recognizes that the best case scenario is for Hudson to be as independent as possible. That he should be able to have fair wages, savings and be a part of the community. And no matter where she lives, Hudson should be able to join her without losing what we’ve been able to provide. Not require her to move to him. Henley also shared her concerns for families that don’t have the same support that we have. Her heart is pure gold. She desires for all Hudson’s buddies to have unlimited opportunities and be included in their communities. I only learned my voice really matters since Hudson’s birth. Henley learning this now is powerful. We talked about society’s expectations across the board: They are LOW! Most adults with Down syndrome often get talked to like young children. Most decision making adults see or hear the diagnosis and automatically build a wall. They don’t take time to see the abilities. If we could re-story the way people see our children, we could eliminate much of this fight for inclusion. I don’t want to change my son’s extra chromosome; he was born just as he was designed. We have to do a better job to accept him as he is, not look to always changing him. Again, he deserves equitable space in this world. You will never make me uncomfortable by asking any questions. I will only be uncomfortable if you whisper, stare, ignore, hide or if you are rude. Don’t read that wrong, I won’t be uncomfortable for me, I am uncomfortable for you. Hudson is who he is and I am proud and embrace this journey we are on together. Our meetings on Capitol Hill included U.S. Representative Mike Ezell and Staffers, Katy Roberts from U.S. Senator Roger Wicker’s office and U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith had something come up, so we met with Kendall Garraway Moore from her office. You probably already know this, but it was like being at home having coffee with old friends. That’s what I love about Mississippi; connections with good folks comes easy and the friends/connections in common are mind-blowing. While we met with three of the five offices, all were asked to meet with us. Our message was clear with all three meetings: Please be our voice for needed change. Our Legislative Priorities: Join our Congressional Task Force for Down Syndrome so Member and Staffers can be in the know about the needs for families like mine. Lead by Cathy McMorris Rogers. S.1183 Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention (Introduced while we were there. I will share more on this below.) Support the National Alzheimer’s Research Act (NAPA) Re-Authorization (Senator Wicker has already signed on) Sponsor/Support Transformation to Competitive Integrative Employment Act (End Subminimum Wage. States who already have changed subminimum wages: AK, CA, CO, DE, HI, ME, MD, NH, OR, RI, SC, TN, WA, and VA (new)) Asking for Increased Funding for the INCLUDE Project at NIH with GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation (Needs more Republican Support) CJ, Henley, Hudson and I attended these meetings with confidence in our message. Nick Leto with National Down Syndrome Society joined with us to share specifics on the policy changes sought. I believe we made a difference. Our asks are bipartisan good needed changes that reflect the want of our community. We matter. Hudson’s life matters. In one meeting we were asked what we see for Hudson’s future. I jokingly said that he will be the most amazing breakdancer this world has ever seen, but the serious answer is that we want to see him graduate high school with a diploma, not a certificate. We want him to have opportunities to go to college should he want to. Opportunities to be an active participant in his community. Have his own financial means to support the life he wants to live. What is possible is on Hudson; we just wish to support what he CAN DO, not always have conversations of what he can’t do. As we were heading back to our end of Capitol Hill Day Reception with National Down Syndrome Society, we were met by friends. The news they shared were exactly why I advocate. It was both Charlotte Woodward and Bobbi Sarmiento walking hand in hand. They had been told that the U.S. House was introducing on the U.S. House Floor by Rep. Kat Cammack; and they got to be there for this beautiful moment. It had been introduced on the U.S. Senate Floor earlier in the week. Charlotte Woodward is our friend who works at NDSS. She was a recipient of a heart transplant and she happens to have Down syndrome. Her doctors didn’t discriminate and provided her a lifesaving transplant. S.1183 is named after her, still waiting on House Bill number. She wants to make sure that everyone has access to medical needs in the Down syndrome community. Bobbi Sarmiento is Baby Zions mom. Baby Zion was denied a heart transplant and sadly died at 4 months old. This sweet baby was solely denied because he was born with an extra chromosome. Bobbi was there to see that no more families suffer the way she has. This loss rocked our entire community and it has left us outraged that we are still seeing deadly discrimination today. At the start of the reception, Congresswoman Kat Cammack, of Florida, came in the room. She was thrilled to share with everyone that she was the one to introduce the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Discrimination Prevention Act. Thank you to U.S. Representative Kat Cammack, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell. Rep. Cammack said she believes this will go all the way with 100% support from all. Bipartisan and good. Urge your U.S. Legislators to say YES! Yes, we already have protections against discrimination here in Mississippi, known as Cole’s Law, The reason this is needed at the federal level is simple, the transplant list itself is a federal list and this should be a federal law. Many states have created different wording on this and a federal law would enforce this law be consistent across borders and create a practice that all must follow across all states. No misunderstanding of the law. What we have here in Mississippi was in Florida at time of Baby Zion’s death. Federal protections must be passed to protect our loved ones no matter where they live or who provides their health needs. I feel like the biggest ask on the priorities list, solely based on cost, is the Transformation to Competitive Integrative Employment Act. This will take time, planning, and cost some money upfront, but, ultimately, it will save trillions and it’s just the right thing to do. The word itself, subminimum, for wages paid to most people with disabilities, is below minimum and it’s not even a real word. When a typical child wants to elevate education to maximize opportunities and job security, we encourage that the sky is the limit. When good paying opportunities with benefits, retirement and more are available, the person can then be independent of government supplements. We should invest in people with disabilities futures; find the abilities and maximize the level of independence. Transitioning should always be a focus. As long as there is room to grow and be better at any/all tasks, the goal should always be to seek enrichment to the best of that individuals personal abilities; the sky should be the limit for all. We must raise our expectations of our children with disabilities. An award was given to a documentary film maker this week. He followed a young lady who fought those who had stereotypes of her and Down syndrome. Each challenge she and her family faced, they met with “Challenge Accepted”. Everyone I have met on this journey has the same sentiment; don’t tell us what can’t be done, we will show you what can. The “Alzheimers Research Inclusion” is a must. Something in the extra chromosome protects Hudson from developing a tumor, but the chance of developing Alzheimers is greater in our family with Down syndrome than the general population. By increasing access to diagnostic care and treatment, congress must ensure insurance coverage, such as at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, provides access to high-quality diagnostic care and treatment. We are also seeking portability of healthcare benefits across state lines. Alzheimers on the person is unfathomable, but we also know the heaviness on the caregivers. We are seeking to help better support caregivers, too; training, respite care, financial planning and accessibility of memory care and long-term care centers. Excellent, appropriate medical care is important for: length of life, quality of life, and allows a person with Down syndrome to reach their true potential. People with Down syndrome have a different disease spectrum and research is key to providing the care that is needed. More beautiful moments from our trip were the Champions of Change Awards and dance party that followed. Two great friends of mine won awards. Both Courtney Gaines from Oklahoma and Jordan Burk with Kelly and Kelso from Texas took home trophies. They are both wonderful champions. Even without a trophy in my hand, I feel like a champion, too. You see, both recipients shared how important of a role I played in their success to be there that night as winners; Jordan even thanked me from the stage. I helped with the passing of Courtney’s Law (just like Hudson’s Law) in Oklahoma. I called lawmakers and held zoom meetings to see that Oklahoma protect our families along with Courtney’s mom, DeAnna. I am also a huge supporter of the Kelly and Kelso franchise. Jordan is moving huge mountains and I have had the pleasure of being a cheering mom figure for him as he opens new doors. I was nominated for this award, which is an honor, but the winners are people I have been cheering for all along… and that is a huge win for us all. And THE DANCING, the best. David DeSanctis was our DJ and the moves on the dance floor created the smiles that hurt in the best way. Hudson did some of his breakdancing moves on the stage and the party was a nonstop blast. Just as we celebrate all of Hudson’s inch-stones, forward moving progress is a clear win. As you can see, it is time that the people we elect hear our needs and support our good bipartisan asks. The benefits will have ripple effects through our communities and across our country. Stop apologizing for behaviors that society deems unacceptable by our friends with disabilities; your child was born exactly who they were meant to be and society is who needs to change. Inclusion isn’t disability based or a case by case basis, it is meant for all. My life is better because Hudson was born with his extra. My voice is stronger because of him. The friendships made, the education I have been given, the glasses I see through now, all better because of Down syndrome and the people who were born with it. Had God asked me if I wanted Hudson to have his extra, I would have likely said no because of the unknown for me. He didn’t ask, because He knew that Hudson’s extra is a gift to me and the world. Whether you advocate like a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a friend, know this: Good needed change comes when you are EXTRA bold! EXTRA loud people get heard and become the change we seek! The person who is your “why you’re an advocate” is EXTRA worthy of your voice, your time, and your energy! To the world: Embrace Hudson’s EXTRA, he is who he was born to be and I would not change one thing about him. He will always love who he is… just as I do.

National Foster Care Month is an initiative of the Children’s Bureau that seeks to increase national awareness of foster care issues. Southern Christian Services is joining in the effort to raise awareness for this year’s theme: “Strengthening Minds. Uplifting Families”. According to the Children’s Bureau, there are more than 390,000 children and youth in the foster care system nationwide. 80% of those children and youth are experiencing significant mental health issues. This is four times higher than children in the general population. There are two primary contributing factors to the development of a child’s mental health. The first is biology. A large majority of children served in the child welfare system are predisposed to mental health challenges at birth solely based on genetics being passed down to them from their biological family. The second contributing factor is environment. Children that enter the foster care system have been exposed to a wide range of adverse experiences such as substance abuse, deplorable living environments, and abuse by the hands of those tasked with caring for them. Studies conducted by the CDC show that adverse childhood experiences increase the likelihood of a child developing long term emotional, physical, and behavioral health issues as they age. While the odds seem stacked against our children, there is hope for healing. Research shows that the brain of a traumatized child can be healed through positive experiences. It is through repeated positive, safe, and loving experiences created in connected relationships that a traumatized child can truly heal from the adversity they have experienced. Despite the hope offered for healing, mental and behavioral health continue to be one of largest unmet health needs for children and youth in the foster care system today. Considering these facts, Southern Christian Services is committed to meeting those needs by providing safe places for our MS foster children. One way we do this is through our therapeutic foster care program. This program utilizes a community-based and trauma informed approach to caring for children and youth with mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges in the least restrictive environment possible. The program utilizes a “team” approach by directly engaging the therapeutic foster parents and foster children in the healing process. It is critical for everyone’s voice to be heard and valued in this process. By working alongside our therapeutic foster parents, we are able to provide our parents with practical tools and insights to help our MS foster children reach their fullest potential and heal from the trauma they have experienced. In addition to providing targeted support to our foster parents, we also ensure every child has access to qualified mental health therapists who specialize in treating trauma. As an agency, we envision a community where every child has a safe place to call home and the opportunity to thrive. You can help give our MS foster children that opportunity by becoming a licensed therapeutic foster parent. To learn more about how you can change a Mississippi child’s life forever by visiting our website www.scscy.org/therapeuticfostercare or call 601-354-0983.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson announced that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) will begin accepting a new round of applications for its Wild Hog Control Program (WHCP) on Monday, May 1. The application period will remain open until Monday, May 15. All Mississippi counties are eligible for the application period. “I encourage farmers and landowners who have experienced property damage due to these nuisance animals to submit an application for this program,” said Commissioner Gipson. “Those who have previously participated in the Wild Hog Control Program have seen positive results.” In Mississippi alone, wild hogs cause more than $60 million in damages annually. Through the WHCP, MDAC provides “smart” wild hog traps to landowners and managers for the control of wild hogs on private agricultural and forestry lands in Mississippi. MDAC provides the training necessary to use the “smart” traps and technical guidance regarding the most effective methods to trap and control wild hogs on private lands. Applications must be completed and submitted online at www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp. Submitted applications will be evaluated based on the number of acres available for trapping, historical agricultural losses caused by wild hogs on the property and current trapping efforts on the property. A cooperative application is encouraged for small acreage (i.e., adjoining land managers of small parcels should work together to submit one application). Traps will be available for one-month intervals, dependent upon use and success. One trap per 500 – 1,000 acres is recommended, depending on landscape and land use. Visit www.mdac.ms.gov/whcp for program guidelines, applications and additional information. Submit questions regarding the WHCP to Chris McDonald at chris@mdac.ms.gov.