Mississippi Native: Monica L. Coleman
"My sense of duty to the community here, especially in the Delta, transcends a physical address."
What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Today we hear from data-driven advocate and entrepreneur Monica L. Coleman.
Where are you from?
Tunica, Mississippi
How long have you lived in Mississippi?
I have lived in Mississippi for a total of 27 years. I lived in Texas for 13 years and in the East Coast for a brief stint after high school but came back home nine years ago.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Home is the place where you have a sense of belonging, where you know and love the people and the people know and love you. Mississippi fits into that definition for me because it is the place where I came to know and love myself and others; I always have this mutual feeling of being known and loved among the people here throughout the state.
I cultivate community by serving others. I believe community is about being connected, and there is no better way to connect with others than by serving.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
I cultivate community by serving others. I believe community is about being connected, and there is no better way to connect with others than by serving. The people who make me feel rooted are my family members, friends, and fellow entrepreneurs and advocates; we all value serving others.
What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?
People in Texas and other places I have lived and traveled would ask me if lynchings are still prevalent in Mississippi.
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
I definitely lean more into my advocate identity as a Mississippian. Being from Mississippi birthed in me a deep desire to advance racial and health equity.
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
One thing I think I better understand only as someone who lives here is how Mississippi politics is largely influenced by people who do not live in the state, which is disappointing. However, the community and culture of the Mississippi Delta never disappoints.
Being from Mississippi birthed in me a deep desire to advance racial and health equity.
Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
Because I am a part of a very small subset of professional counselors and counselor educators who also work in evaluation and public health, I am always being recruited for opportunities beyond Mississippi. I certainly consider moving when those opportunities arise. I have decided that I will always be rooted here whether I live here or elsewhere. My sense of duty to the community here, especially in the Delta, transcends a physical address. Though there really is no tipping point to this matter, I am extremely particular about making sure my family can have a sense of community when I consider opportunities beyond the state and am upfront that I will continue to serve and invest in Mississippi even if I move elsewhere.
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
I wrote a chapter in Necessary Conversations: Understanding Racism as a Barrier to Achieving Health Equity, the fifth volume in the Culture of Health series with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In it, I discuss the struggle and strength of Mississippi and how people in this state, especially Black Americans, have led the nation. As the Blackest state in the union, I believe the state is poised for such a time as this to lead the nation in liberation as it relates to advancing racial justice and health equity.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?
Big K.R.I.T. is one of my favorites because he's open about his story and life, which I feel is what real rap is all about. I'll just mention him and hope some folks will go check him out.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
I would create an endowment fund that benefits communities across the state that choose to work collaboratively to advance racial justice and health equity. These might be projects and policymaking initiatives that address root causes of social determinants of health and mental health such as housing and food insecurity, access to quality education and decent employment, etc.
I have decided that I will always be rooted here whether I live here or elsewhere. My sense of duty to the community here, especially in the Delta, transcends a physical address.
What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)
I definitely want to plug my organization and team at Doing the Work: Counseling & Consulting LLC. We are a community-powered research, evaluation, and learning consultancy working throughout Mississippi. We help community shareholders build power by working together to address difficult topics so they can solve real problems. We use empowerment evaluation and other community-engaged facilitation approaches to leverage narrative and public data in our work. Our goal is to complete at least one community-powered project that addresses social determinants of health and mental health risk factors in all 82 counties by 2030. I can be reached at mcoleman@doingtheworkgroup.com.
I really appreciate someone who has a long term goal for social good. From your mouth to God’s ear!