Mississippi Delta part of AARP African American Initiative

By: State: Mississippi | Source: AARP.org

AARP recently launched a national effort to increase membership in the African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino markets. Six cities have been selected for the first tier of the African American effort, including Memphis, TN and the northern Mississippi region. The other cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans and New York City.

AARP has 40 million members throughout the nation. This initiative is intended to increase African American membership which is less than the general population.

In Mississippi, AARP staff and volunteers will work in two key cities in the Delta. Through a series of community conversations, AARP will ask about membership perception, barriers to membership, and membership engagement.

"The answers to these questions will provide us with the direction we need to construct recruitment, engagement and retention efforts," said Sherri Davis-Garner, AARP Mississippi Senior State Director.

Nationally, AARP has appointed Raquel Equsquiza as Vice President Hispanic/Latino Strategy and Edna Kane-Williams, Vice President African American/Black Strategy.