Black Wall Street District On The Move.
In the heart of Mississippi’s Delta, Friars Point is emerging as a beacon of transformation—a community steadily redefining its narrative through authentic engagement, heritage reclamation, and visionary planning. At the forefront of this resurgence is the Friars Point Economic Development Association (FPEDA), founded by the Omicron Pi Foundation, and powered by a dedicated network of community leaders, partners, and residents. Meeting monthly via Zoom and in person, the FPEDA has evolved into a dynamic incubator where bold ideas are translated into actionable plans—restoring culture, revitalizing land, and reigniting the economic spirit that once fueled historic Black communities across America.
Melvin Brown, State Director of Black Wall Street Mississippi, spearheading much of this transformative progress, whose leadership has breathed new life into Friars Point's potential. Brown's work embodies the enduring principles of Black Wall Street—economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and unity through grassroots organizing.
In the short term, the progress is visible and tangible. Volunteers have banded together to restore the historic Friars Point Negro/African American Cemetery, a sacred resting place whose stories span generations. Through cleanup drives, research initiatives, and digital mapping, the community is reclaiming its ancestors’ narratives, bringing dignity and visibility to lives long overlooked.
The Black Wall Street Mississippi State Council stands as a vital arm of the broader Black economic empowerment movement, working to rebuild, reconnect, and reinvest in historically underserved communities across the state. As part of the national framework of Black Wall Street USA, the council focuses on fostering entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and cooperative economics. Its mission reflects a long-standing legacy rooted in the original Black Wall Street of Tulsa, yet adapted to the modern realities of Mississippi’s economic landscape—where opportunity, equity, and ownership remain central goals for sustainable development.
At the helm of this statewide effort is Melvin Brown, who serves as State Director of Mississippi with a strong base of leadership in Friars Point. His work is complemented by Mauricka McKenzie, Vice State Director based in Clinton, whose leadership strengthens the council’s reach across central Mississippi. Together, their leadership represents a balance of grassroots organizing and strategic expansion, ensuring that both rural Delta communities and urban centers are included in the movement’s growth. Their roles are part of a broader leadership network within Black Wall Street USA that emphasizes coordinated state-level action tied to national objectives.
A foundational architect of the Mississippi expansion is Ethel Cain Russell, former State Director and now Deputy Chief of Staff of U.S. States. Under her leadership, the framework for multiple Black Wall Street districts across Mississippi was established, including Black Wall Street Clarkedale, Black Wall Street Clinton, Black Wall Street Batesville, Black Wall Street Mound Bayou, and Black Wall Street Jackson. These districts represent more than geographic markers—they are intentional hubs for economic circulation, business incubation, and cultural restoration. Russell’s contributions also include programmatic initiatives aimed at empowering women, strengthening financial literacy, and building long-term institutional capacity within Black communities.
The philosophical direction of the movement in Mississippi was significantly sharpened by a pivotal 2015 Poverty Tour of the Mississippi Delta led by Dr. Michael Carter, Sr., founder and national president of the Black Wall Street Global Movement. This tour exposed systemic economic disparities while also highlighting untapped potential within Delta communities. More importantly, it served as a strategic inflection point—clarifying the movement’s long-term vision not just for immediate recovery, but for a structured, multi-generational plan extending hundreds of years into the future. Carter’s leadership emphasized that economic empowerment must be intentional, spiritually grounded, and institutionally sustained to achieve lasting transformation.
Today, the Black Wall Street Mississippi State Council continues to evolve as both a movement and a model. Through coordinated leadership, district expansion, and a clearly defined long-term vision, it is laying the groundwork for economic ecosystems that prioritize ownership, education, and community resilience. From Friars Point to Jackson, the council’s work reflects a broader national effort to reclaim economic narratives and build generational wealth. With leaders like Melvin Brown, Mauricka McKenzie, and Ethel Cain Russell carrying the vision forward, Mississippi is emerging as a powerful example of how localized action can contribute to a global movement designed to endure for the next 300 years and beyond.
Equally significant is the transformation of abandoned and underutilized lots into green-space community gardens. These gardens are already bearing fruit—literally and metaphorically. They provide fresh produce to local families, teach sustainable agriculture, and offer a safe space for intergenerational connection and wellness.
“These gardens are more than food plots—they are living monuments to self-sufficiency, pride, and healing,” said Rita Hughes, State Administrator for Black Wall Street Mississippi. “They represent what can happen when communities reclaim not just land, but identity.”
The community gardens serve as launchpads for educational workshops and cultural programs, drawing in youth and elders alike. The restored cemetery and green spaces together form a powerful synergy—connecting health and history, cultivation and commemoration. The immediate impact is a revitalized sense of place and purpose.
"Melvin Brown’s leadership has redefined what it means to build from the ground up,” said Paula Chan, System Analyst with the Black Wall Street USA Administration. “He is not only organizing meetings—he’s building movements. The work being done in Friars Point stands as a true reflection of Black Wall Street’s legacy and a model for communities across the South.”
“Community revitalization is not just about economic development—it’s about cultural recovery,” emphasized Ethel Cain Russell, Deputy Chief of Staff of U.S. States, Black Wall Street USA – Office of the President. “Friars Point exemplifies what happens when we honor the past while equipping the next generation to build a better future. This is what Black Wall Street is all about.”
“From Tulsa to Friars Point, there is a thread of resilience running through our people,” reflected Marshon Kincy, Deputy Chief of Staff of Global Affairs, Black Wall Street USA – Office of the President. “As we remember Greenwood’s legacy—the heart of Black Wall Street—we also uplift communities like Friars Point, who are reclaiming their space in the American narrative with pride, determination, and vision.”
“This is more than a project—it’s a blueprint,” said Dr. Michael Carter, Sr. “Friars Point is showing how cultural restoration and economic development can walk hand-in-hand, and how every community, no matter its size, can become a model of progress.”
Looking ahead, the mid-term benefits of the FPEDA's initiatives are already shaping new dimensions of civic life. The monthly meetings have evolved into forums for innovation, economic literacy, historical preservation, and community empowerment. Residents are learning not only how to plant seeds in soil, but how to grow ideas into lasting institutions. Under Melvin Brown’s guidance, FPEDA has launched heritage tours, small business mentorship circles, youth leadership development, and even early-stage plans for a digital archive that honors the town’s Civil Rights and Reconstruction-era figures.
FPEDA's initiatives are creating deep, layered connections: between young and old, past and future, land and legacy. Youth in Friars Point are not only learning agricultural skills but also interviewing elders for oral history archives. Local entrepreneurs are receiving guidance on developing cooperative business models. Churches, schools, and cultural organizations are aligning with the development vision to ensure wide participation and shared benefits. As State Director of Black Wall Street Mississippi, Brown has amplified these efforts by building partnerships with regional universities, health organizations, agricultural experts, and national heritage nonprofits. These alliances ensure that Friars Point doesn’t just dream of transformation—it executes it, with technical support and measurable outcomes.
The long-term vision of the FPEDA is to secure a lasting legacy that echoes far beyond the borders of Coahoma County. Plans are underway to launch a community heritage museum, develop a cultural entrepreneurship hub, and formalize Friars Point as a site of national interest for African American history tourism. These initiatives will honor Black Wall Street’s foundational principles—ownership, literacy, self-determination—and bring them to life in ways that are accessible, inclusive, and generative. The work in Friars Point is already influencing similar efforts in other Delta communities, where residents are now attending FPEDA meetings, seeking guidance from Melvin Brown, and studying Friars Point’s replicable model of engagement. A vision that began in quiet conversations is now resonating across state lines—reinvigorating hope, investment, and solidarity.
“This is how we reclaim the legacy that was stripped from us—not through monuments alone, but through movement,” said Chan. “And Friars Point is moving, fast and forward.” From each weed pulled in the cemetery to each seed planted in a garden bed, Friars Point is turning intention into action. Its people are laying the bricks for a legacy that will endure. And through the guidance of leaders like Brown, supported by the global network of Black Wall Street USA, that legacy is not only being built—it is being broadcast as a call to rise. For ongoing updates, and vibrant community stories, and to become a part of this revitalization journey, follow the Friars Point Economic Development Association on our Facebook page and explore our dedicated website. Each connection helps sustain this transformative project's momentum, ensuring that Friars Point's legacy resonates well beyond its borders.
The Omicron Pi Foundation centers its mission on strengthening community well-being and fostering cultural pride in Friars Point. Its initiatives emphasize youth engagement and resident empowerment, encouraging individuals to take an active role in shaping the town’s future. Through collaboration and innovative programming, the foundation seeks to build a vibrant, forward-looking community that remains deeply connected to its historical roots while pursuing long-term prosperity.
At the core of the foundation’s approach is the belief that meaningful change is driven by collective participation. By offering a diverse range of programs, the organization works to inspire personal growth, build confidence, and promote unity among residents. This inclusive strategy not only reinforces a shared sense of purpose but also positions Friars Point as a community where individuals are both contributors to and beneficiaries of sustainable development.
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