MS PFP | Meeting One Planning & Logistical Information

PFP Fellows,

On behalf of Kell Smith (Executive Director, MCCB), Dr. James "Ed" Davis (Co-Director, Mississippi PFP Program), and the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB), congratulations on being named as Fellows for the 2025-26 cohort of the Mississippi Policy Fellows Program (PFP). The program has seventeen confirmed Mississippi Fellows! There is a possibility of having a few more names added prior to the first meeting. It is shaping up to be a wonderful year with a variety of viewpoints and expertise areas represented. Let's get started!

The September meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 3rd. We will focus on (1) networking and relationship building, (2) providing program planning information, (3) framing the goals and outcomes of the program, and (4) defining advocacy. We will also be joined by PFP alumni from last year's cohort to discuss their experiences, help you with your expectations, and answer any questions you have about program activities over the next nine months. 

Please find below specific calls to action and planning information in advance of the first meeting.

Part One - - Calls to Action

-- Program Fee Payment: All Fellows have received individualized invoices providing the PFP program fee. The invoices were issued by a program partner, Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City (CSDGKC), in partnership with AdvocacyBuild, LLC. Please reach out to your business management office in advance of the first meeting to see if the payment has been submitted.

-- Mississippi PFP Network Registration: You will receive a separate email today providing instructions on how to register for the Mississippi Policy Fellows Program (PFP) Network. This request takes less than five minutes to complete. Please complete the registration in advance of the first meeting and at your earliest convenience. 

-- Questions: Please direct any questions you have in advance of the first meeting to Tyson Elbert via email, phone, or text. 

Part Two - - Planning & Logistical Information

-- Meeting Date: The first meeting of the Mississippi Policy Fellows Program (PFP) will be held on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.

-- Meeting Beginning & Ending Times: The meeting will begin at 10:00 am and conclude no later than 4:00 pm. Please make sure to plan accordingly and arrive in advance of 10:00 am.

-- Meeting Location: The meeting will take place at the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) located at 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211. We will be meeting in the BoardRoom located on the Fifth Floor.

-- Parking Instructions: Please park in the parking lots on the north and south sides of the building. Parking is available at no cost. 

-- Attendance: In-person attendance is mandatory.

-- Meals & Refreshments: Lunch and refreshments will be provided at the meeting. Please consider bringing personal snacks and drinks as needed. 

-- Meeting Dress: PFP meetings are a mixture of speakers, panel discussions, and group activities. Outside of group work, you’ll be sitting for most agenda items. We recommend business casual dress with a priority given to comfort. The thermometer is out of our control; please consider bringing layers if you get hot or cold easily. 

-- Name Badges: Bring and wear your name badges so that we can begin the process of learning everyone’s name, position, and institution. 

-- Spam Email: It is likely that program emails are not going to a spam file if you are reading this email. Please double-check as the program's correspondence will originate from this advocacybuild.com account.

Part Three - - Other Materials

-- Cohort Roster: Please find attached the 2025-26 Mississippi PFP cohort roster with names, titles, and institutions. This is a draft version of the roster, we will update information and correct any mistakes at the first meeting.

Again, if you have questions as the first meeting date approaches, please don’t hesitate to call or text me at (202) 550-4868. You may also email me at tyson@advocacybuild.com. No question is too small! All questions are important!

Sincerely,

Tyson Elbert

Co-Director, Mississippi Policy Fellows Program (PFP)