Mississippi Transplant: Tyler Prowant
"As I transition into this new chapter of my life, I sometimes catch myself referring to Florida as home. But the truth is, home is here in Mississippi with my wife and our new daughter."
What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Air Force Technical Sergeant Tyler Prowant lived, worked, and skateboarded all over the world before moving back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast with his wife, a Mississippi native. A passionate skate boarder, Tyler developed a plan to “transform the Gulf Coast into the next great skateboarding mecca.” Alongside a crew of committed skaters, Tyler grew a casual community skateboarding meet-up into the Gulf Coast Skateparks Association, a nonprofit that seeks to foster a thriving skateboarding community by focusing on youth programs and developing free-use public access skateparks. Today, Tyler shares how skateboarding, travel, and family have shaped his approach to growing roots in Mississippi.
Where are you from?
I was born in Germany into a military family. In 1997, when my family decided to settle down, we moved to a small rural area in Clarksville, Florida. Growing up there, I lived in the most rural part of the state, located in the county with the smallest population. This area of Florida shares similarities with Mississippi, like its rural landscape and tight-knit community atmosphere. The kind of place where everyone knows everyone. Where jumping in the rivers and creeks are pastimes everyone enjoys and the biggest thing happening on Friday night is a high school football game.
When did you move to Mississippi and why did you move here?
When I joined the US Air Force in 2010, my first technical training to become a structural civil engineer was at NCBC (Naval Construction Battalion Center) in Gulfport, Mississippi. I thought that would be my last time in Mississippi until I was sent back for welding school, and again when I was retrained from construction to a cyber career field. The retraining into Cyber was an abrupt shock to my career because I loved my construction job, but it brought me back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, this time to Keesler Air Force Base. After my six-month training, I served for three years at Keesler until I was selected for a unique assignment to Belgium in 2020. I did the best with the hand I had been dealt and quickly learned that Cyber was a great opportunity for me.
While at Keesler, I met the love of my life, Haley, a beautiful and exceptionally smart Mississippi native. We got married amid the global health crisis after only knowing each other for less than a year, and she accompanied me to Europe for an overseas assignment. We knew that after my assignment in Belgium, we wanted to return to Mississippi, close to our families. We felt this was where we could contribute the most, both professionally to the Air Force and in the skateboarding scene in the community.
Looking back now, I realize that every costly plane ticket was worth it to come home and make memories with my family. You won’t know when your last goodbye with someone who loves you will be.
I applied to be a Cyber Fundamentals Instructor and, after overcoming many challenges, we were selected. We were able to finally move to Mississippi, hoping it would be permanent. I aim to stay here on the Gulf Coast until I retire. Since many Air Force members are not particularly eager to come to Keesler or Mississippi, I believe I can capitalize on the continuous need for high speed instructors.
This August, Haley and I celebrated four amazing years of marriage, and the birth of our first child, Thea Gayle Prowant. We are thrilled to raise her here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where the weather is wonderful year-round, the community is warm and hospitable, and she will have opportunities far beyond what I had growing up in my small town in Florida. We are incredibly grateful for the beautiful home we've found to nurture our growing family. There’s no place we’d rather be to start this next chapter of our lives.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Home is where the people who love you are. As a military member, this sentiment takes on a different meaning when serving at locations across the world. As a brand new, nineteen-years-young Airman, I yearned for adventure and was fortunate to receive an assignment to England for two years. However, I did not anticipate the profound pain of missing home, my friends, and my family.
I coped by seizing the opportunity to travel, advance in my career, go to school online, skateboard all over the world, and make as many friends as possible in order to stay busy. Yet, no amount of busyness could keep my heart from missing home. Throughout my career, I returned home several times, each visit refueling me for my adventures in the Air Force.
It was particularly tough being away as I watched my father’s health decline due to untreated PTSD from his time in the Air Force, compounded by heart issues. Looking back now, I realize that every costly plane ticket was worth it to come home and make memories with my family. You won’t know when your last goodbye with someone who loves you will be. Money comes and goes, but good memories can last a lifetime.
My dad passed away in August of 2020 due to sudden health complications, but in 2019 before that he and I went on a special trip back to his hometown in Illinois to visit my grandma and all of our family from up there. On that trip my dad connected my grandmother with a brother she never knew she had using the new technologies of DNA testing through ancestry.com. We had a massive family reunion that trip which linked our family to a larger extended family. My dad was always trying to reconnect our family. The memories of that trip shape for me the definition of what home is had how much family places a role in that definition.
Mississippi has been my home several times, but this time is particularly special because we have bought a house to start our family. Despite the challenges that come with moving and getting established, we have been embraced by the support and generosity of our family, wingmen, and neighbors. Their help and kindness have made this transition smoother and filled us with hope and excitement for the future. We are looking forward to creating cherished memories and building a bright future and strong bonds here in Mississippi.
While talking to my Belgian skateboarding buddies about my excitement to return to the States, they assumed we had the best skateparks in every major town or city. I had to break it to them that the South is typically lagging in this aspect, and there's a lot of work needed to reach the level of skateparks you find in every town and city in Belgium.
What do you miss most about the place where you’re from?
More recently, I’ve found myself missing certain aspects of being stationed in Europe, like the convenience of traveling by train, the abundance of skateparks, and the culture of fairness where citizens readily follow the law.
I also miss spending time with my mom, sisters, family, and friends from Florida. Fortunately, it's only about a four-hour drive from here, so I visit often. My childhood friends are still a major part of my life, and how rare that is is not lost on me. Every time I go back, I make sure to skateboard, play board games, or hang out on the river with them. I love catching up and seeing them happy in their lives. I feel incredibly fortunate that Biloxi is just a short trip away from where I grew up.
As I transition into this new chapter of my life, I sometimes catch myself referring to Florida as home. But the truth is, home is here in Mississippi with my wife and our new daughter. I am excited about the future and all the wonderful memories we will create together.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
Before being assigned to Keesler AFB, I developed a multi-pronged plan to start a nonprofit organization aimed at fostering a thriving skateboarding community and building free public skateparks on the Gulf Coast. I researched the best approaches and reflected on my past experiences in the area to guide my planning.
Weeks before moving back, I reconnected with old skateboarding buddies and began rallying support. In my first few months, I gauged interest from local skaters and friends, and was thrilled to find many eager to join the project. Initially worried about community burnout and city leader apathy, I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response.
We started with a casual skateboarding meet-up in Biloxi with eight skateboarders. After a few meet-ups, we planned a skateboarding event in October 2023 that attracted over 100 people. This caught the attention of businesses, organizations, and the public. We began working with Biloxi Main Street, who welcomed us to transform two downtown parking lots into a skatepark. Biloxi Main Street was already planning a $3-4M, 60,000 square foot skatepark as part of a larger $35M urban revitalization project. They were happy to collaborate with our emerging community to make this a reality.
Since then, our community has built a temporary DIY skatepark, starting with a ledge and rail, expanding into a full-blown park for public use. Despite initial fears of vandalism and theft, we inspired others to create more features and maintain the ramps. Our biggest event, Biloxi Skate Fest, attracted 350 people with lessons, vendors, food trucks, music, raffles, and contests.
In the Air Force, I meet students from all over the country, many of whom have no clue how awesome being stationed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast really is. They probably imagine it's a backwater redneck mudhole with nothing to do. I love proving them wrong…
With overwhelming community support, we formed a board of directors and established our nonprofit organization. Within six months, the community raised $4,000, allowing us to become a 501(c)(3) in May 2024. Now, we are legally positioned to collect funds for projects that will benefit the Gulf Coast community.
The local skaters and my supportive in-law family here on the coast have made me feel rooted here. Andrew Buras, one of the best skateboarders on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, has been instrumental in gathering locals and helping me lead them. His skateboarding street cred has legitimized the project and inspired others to join. My nieces have also made me feel connected to Mississippi, through their excitement at wanting to learn to skateboard from me. This made me realize I was meant to be here, doing this.
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?
While talking to my Belgian skateboarding buddies about my excitement to return to the States, they assumed we had the best skateparks in every major town or city. I had to break it to them that the South is typically lagging in this aspect, and there's a lot of work needed to reach the level of skateparks you find in every town and city in Belgium.
In the Air Force, I meet students from all over the country, many of whom have no clue how awesome being stationed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast really is. They probably imagine it's a backwater redneck mudhole with nothing to do. I love proving them wrong by highlighting all the cool activities right off base: disc golf, ax throwing, breweries, live music, tattoo conventions, Comic Con, and now skateboarding. These things show the diverse and energetic crowd we attract to the coast. And let’s not forget the epic car shows like Cruisin' the Coast.
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
I've worked really hard to find a sense of belonging here. Some days, I still feel like an outsider in public, a feeling I've grown accustomed to and learned to adapt to over the years. However, I've encountered many welcoming people on the coast, which has made a significant difference. In turn, I've found that I can make other newcomers feel welcome too.
Overcoming the challenges of starting a nonprofit in Biloxi, has shown me that many others share my vision for this place. They want to see it bloom just as much as I do. Through this journey, I've realized that despite initial feelings of being an outsider, there is a strong, supportive community here, eager to embrace new ideas and growth. I am linking my family's future with this state and am determined to see it continue to adapt for the better.
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
There is a remarkably resilient group of skateboarders deep in the heart of many towns and cities in Mississippi. In Tupelo, I discovered a gem of a skate scene comprised of world-class skateboarders, with Change Skate Shop leading the way. Change won the Red Bull Terminal Takeover in 2023 in New Orleans and recently received several awards for hosting Tupelo’s Change Fest. Mississippi has exceeded my expectations through the people who live here and their diverse passions. I didn't expect to find so many individuals who believed in the transformative power of a wooden board with wheels like I did. Yet, they are here, thriving in the streets and backwaters of Mississippi. This unexpected discovery has reinforced my belief in the vibrant and passionate skateboarding community in this state.
Overcoming the challenges of starting a nonprofit in Biloxi, has shown me that many others share my vision for this place. They want to see it bloom just as much as I do. Through this journey, I've realized that despite initial feelings of being an outsider, there is a strong, supportive community here, eager to embrace new ideas and growth.
Have you ever thought about moving away? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
I don't foresee moving far from my family, but the lack of skateparks and the difficulty of traveling easily from Mississippi are challenging aspects to handle. Despite this, I feel a strong calling to stay and nurture the seeds of skateboarding I have planted here.
For the past ten years, I've showcased many skateparks around the world on my YouTube channel, including numerous parks here in Mississippi. People recognize me for my coverage of places like Tupelo, Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, and Wiggins. I've taken the time to highlight these locations, and I want to continue exploring and sharing new skate spots across Mississippi.
The more I learn about the skateboarding efforts around the state, the stronger my desire to stay becomes. I aim to revisit these places and discover new locations to skate, showcasing what it's like in different parts of Mississippi. By doing so, I hope to inspire others and contribute to the growth of the skateboarding community here.
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
Over the last decade, I've witnessed Mississippi undergo many positive changes. The adoption of the new state flag signaled to the rest of the country that Mississippi is entering an era of open-mindedness while still showcasing its rich history, vibrant culture, and unique mystique. I wish more people understood that if they visited here, they would be blown away by the unparalleled hospitality.
Having been stationed in various locations across the US, Africa, and Europe, I can confidently say that some of the best food I've ever tasted comes from Mississippi. The diversity of cuisine on the Gulf Coast is unmatched.
Additionally, Mississippians take great pride in their front porches. This tradition reflects their deep-seated desire to show that guests are always welcome and well taken care of. The hospitality here is genuinely second to none, and it’s something that truly sets Mississippi apart.
The more I learn about the skateboarding efforts around the state, the stronger my desire to stay becomes.
Is there a Mississippi change-maker who you think everyone needs to know about?
Andrew Buras, Justin Pounds, and Jacob Germany are three of the most talented skateboarders on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Each of them has not only excelled in their craft but has also fought to establish a foothold for skateboarding in the area. They dedicate their time to helping develop the next generation of skateboarders, despite having the least number of skateparks to hone their skills. They have truly bloomed where they were planted, right here in Mississippi.
I have immense respect and admiration for their passion and hard work. These three skateboarders would easily be sponsored if they lived in another part of the country, but Mississippi is still developing in this area. Many skaters were disappointed when the county skatepark was poorly maintained and eventually closed, and when the community-established DIY park was demolished. Despite these setbacks and the lack of local government support, Andrew, Justin, and Jacob continued to improve and inspire others.
Their resilience and dedication are a testament to their love for skateboarding. They represent a larger community of passionate and talented skateboarders in Mississippi who deserve recognition. These skaters have proven that even in the face of adversity, the spirit of skateboarding thrives.
Overall, investing in skateparks fosters community spirit, supports youth development, and contributes to the local economy. It's a meaningful investment in the future of Mississippi's young athletes and the broader community.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
If I had substantial financial resources, I would address the lack of pathways for youth in Mississippi to reach the Olympics in skateboarding. I would invest heavily in developing the skateboarding community and constructing skateparks across the state. The nonprofit I founded, The Gulf Coast Skateparks Association, is dedicated to this mission.
Skateparks are vital community hubs where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together and share a love for skateboarding. For youth, having a dedicated space to challenge themselves physically in this modern, individualized sport is empowering. Skateboarding promotes not only physical fitness but also mental resilience. The nature of the sport, where progress is made through repeated attempts and overcoming failures, teaches perseverance and the courage to believe in oneself.
Investing in indoor skateparks is particularly beneficial, as they provide a controlled and safe environment, encouraging more participation from female and underserved skateboarder minorities and ensuring year-round access. Additionally, skateparks can provide a much-needed economic boost by creating a destination for skaters, their families, and supporters to engage in a positive and exciting activity.
Overall, investing in skateparks fosters community spirit, supports youth development, and contributes to the local economy. It's a meaningful investment in the future of Mississippi's young athletes and the broader community.
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.)
The Gulf Coast Skateparks Association is a nonprofit organization that I founded with the unwavering support of our community. Upon returning from my overseas assignment in Belgium, I developed a plan to transform the Gulf Coast into the next great skateboarding mecca. Since the debut of skateboarding at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, countless individuals have been inspired to embark on their own skateboarding journeys. Mississippi has produced some of the world's best athletes, yet when it comes to skateparks, our state is severely underdeveloped.
Our mission is to foster a thriving skateboarding community by focusing on youth programs and developing free-use public access skateparks. We believe this will benefit our community by promoting resilience and a healthy physical lifestyle that can transform our region. The support we have received in our first year has been nothing short of incredible. Biloxi Main Street, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the downtown area, has secured a location under the I-110 Bridge and plans to build a $3M, 60,000-square-foot skatepark as part of a larger $35M urban revitalization project. We have contributed to their efforts by raising awareness about the project and hosting weekly skate meetups and quarterly fundraisers.
This project will have a massive impact on achieving our mission, and we plan to expand to other projects throughout the state as we grow. Already, over 50 youth have learned to skate through our programs, and we have raised $2K towards the project.
If you are inspired to support our cause, please consider donating to our website: www.gulfcoastskateparksassociation.org. Leaving a recurring donation is the best way to ensure that we can continue making an impact. Every contribution goes directly towards programs and projects to develop skateparks, fostering a brighter future for our community.
By providing safe spaces to fall and rise again, we nuture resilience and equip the next generation with the tools to navigate an ever-changing world, pursue their dreams, and contribute positively to society.