March for a Healthy East End Choice Neighborhood

Meridian Housing Authority (MHA) Executive Director, Ron Turner Sr., Mississippi HUD Director, Jerrie Magruder, MHA Board Chairman and Greater Meridian Health Clinic CEO Wilbert Jones and City of Meridian Community Development Director, Connie Royal kickoff to the "March for a Healthy East End Choice Neighborhood" during the Meridian East End Health Fair.

The City of Meridian, MS is already seeing some positive marks in East End as a result of the recently awarded Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant. A health fair held on Friday November 2nd was one of the steps taken to revitalize this neighborhood. East End is challenged with crime, inadequate schools, poor health and nutrition among residents, and deteriorated housing. The HUD grant awarded in January for $242,500 is being used to support grassroots efforts to revitalize George M. Reese Court development, and transform the East End neighborhood with community involvement.

Mississippi HUD Director, Jerrie Magruder experienced her first time as a Grand Marshall of a parade in the "March for a Healthy East End Choice Neighborhood" which was organized by the Meridian Housing Authority (MHA) and its community partners including the City of Meridian. HUD's Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant to MHA was one of 13 cities nationwide to receive funding. The blueprint being created will create a plan for a safe, asset and amenity-rich, walkable neighborhood with new replacement housing and high quality education, healthcare, and social services for neighborhood residents.

A total of eight health care partners and over 150 east end participants benefitted from the event. The Greater Meridian Health Clinic had a mobile health unit on site to provide dental and physical exams. Nursing students from the local community college helped perform blood pressure checks. Attendees were also allowed to tour the recently dedicated police substation at George Reese Court apartments. The location of the site was also an outgrowth of the planning process. The health initiative, the police station, and the other efforts targeted by this planning grant will make East End a resilient community.

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