Community Partner

Why Delta Circles is the Perfect Partner for the Healthy Communities Initiative

In the Mississippi Delta, challenges like poverty, food insecurity, and chronic illness aren’t abstract statistics—they’re daily realities. In Phillips County, Arkansas, where the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) launched its pilot project, these issues intersect to create some of the poorest health outcomes in the nation. Addressing them requires more than medical care—it demands a deep, local understanding of the community and the trust of the people who live there. That’s where Delta Circles comes in.

Shared Mission: Equity, Empowerment, and Local Solutions

Delta Circles is a grassroots organization based in Helena, Arkansas, that has spent years breaking cycles of poverty through education, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment. They are deeply embedded in the community, with relationships built on mutual respect and trust—qualities that HCI considers essential for meaningful, lasting change.Just like HCI, Delta Circles rejects the “one-size-fits-all” approach. Instead, they tailor their work to meet people where they are, addressing the specific barriers—whether economic, educational, or social—that stand in the way of better health and opportunity.

A Local Anchor with Deep Trust

HCI’s place-based approach hinges on engaging residents directly through Community Health Workers (CHWs) who go door-to-door, identify needs, and connect people to both medical and social resources. But for CHWs to be effective, they must be welcomed into the community. Delta Circles’ established reputation makes that possible.By partnering with a trusted local organization, HCI gains an immediate connection to residents, community leaders, and networks that would otherwise take years to build. In other words, Delta Circles provides the bridge that allows HCI’s health strategies to land where they are most needed—and most likely to succeed.

Complementary Strengths

Delta Circles brings deep community relationships, cultural insight, and expertise in economic and social empowerment.

• HCI brings a structured, data-driven public health strategy focused on addressing social determinants of health and improving access to care.Together, these strengths create a holistic approach: addressing the root causes of poor health (like poverty, unemployment, and lack of education) while ensuring residents have access to the services, information, and support they need to thrive.

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Leadership that Understands and Acts

The Healthy Communities Initiative is led by Dr. Irion W. Pursell, a public health practitioner, researcher, and advocate with decades of experience in healthcare and community health improvement. As Managing Director and Principal Investigator, Dr. Pursell blends academic expertise with on-the-ground experience, ensuring that HCI strategies are both evidence-based and locally relevant.His work is rooted in the belief that rural health equity can only be achieved through sustained, community-led action. Under his leadership, HCI has developed a proactive engagement model that doesn’t wait for residents to seek care—instead, it brings health and social services directly to their doorsteps.

Delta Circles is led by Patricia Ashanti, a visionary community leader and tireless advocate for the Mississippi Delta. As Founder and Executive Director, Ashanti has devoted her career to dismantling generational poverty, championing economic justice, and empowering residents to chart their own futures. Her grassroots expertise and deep community connections ensure that programs are not only well-designed, but also trusted, culturally relevant, and embraced by the people they serve.

A Partnership for Long-Term Change

HCI isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about building sustainable systems that give communities the tools to improve health outcomes on their own terms. Delta Circles shares that long-term vision. Their work in strengthening local capacity means that once HCI’s initial intervention period ends, the skills, structures, and community ownership remain.This partnership ensures that the change isn’t just a project—it becomes part of the community’s DNA.

Conclusion

In Phillips County, where trust is earned over time and change happens through relationships, Delta Circles is more than just a partner for HCI—they are the foundation that makes the work possible. Together, we are proving that when you combine local wisdom with innovative public health strategies, you don’t just improve health outcomes—you transform communities.

The Healthy Communities Initiative and Delta Circles Partnership