In 1925 Tallulah was the talk of the South with the opening of Bloom’s Arcade, the first indoor shopping mall in the nation! The building still stands, though now no longer in use. And such is the story of Tallulah: prosperity and loss. Once a town on the cutting edge in the early 1900’s, Tallulah has long since been in decline. However, small glimpses of hope have kept this community alive in the midst of numerous challenges. Your group can help spur on that light of hope through ministry in Tallulah, LA this summer!

Demographics

The population of Tallulah was last counted at 7,658, a decline from the 2000 census. Tallulah has a young population, with a median age of 26.2, much younger than the US average of 35. Although 60% of adults in Tallulah have a high school diploma, education has been a struggle in the elementary and high school levels, with standardized tests showing that students are scoring below the Louisiana average in every subject. However significant test result increases from 2007 to 2008 indicate a glimmer of hope with the Tallulah educational system! Poverty, however, is Tallulah’s biggest challenge. The median household income is under $22,000, which is significantly below the state average of just over $40,000. 43.5% of residents in Tallulah live below the poverty level. In fact, over half live at 50% or more below the poverty level. Nearly 80% of school children qualify for free or reduced lunch programs. At a time when the entire nation is facing unemployment issues, Tallulah’s job growth is considered to be positive, with an overall job increase of 2% in agricultural, nursing and retail occupations. However the unemployment rate in Tallulah still soars above the national rate. Despite such difficulties, only 36% of the population indicate that they participate in a religious congregation. Join others this summer in bringing hope to this community!

About the Ministry

Participants serve in a variety of ways during a YouthWorks mission trip. Students may spend all week at one ministry or switch between ministries during the week. Ministries that your students may participate in are Kids Club and Work Projects. Kids Club is a hands-on program led by your youth offering high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help kids learn about Jesus. Whether we’re painting houses, performing minor home repair, cleaning up debris, volunteering in community gardens or other projects in the community, the projects students work on will serve as our way of blessing people in need. We cannot confirm until all groups arrive exactly what ministries your students will be a part of during the week. We ask that you come with a willing and flexible spirit!

Activities

Evening activities during a YouthWorks week are designed to give participants insight into the lives of local residents and the culture of the area. Below is a list of evening/cultural activities that we have done in the past include: visit a local park; participate in a culutral activity; attend a local church service; attend a local community cookout. These are examples of what your group might partake in during your mission week. These examples are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided. We try to arrange for free evening activities, but from time to time, an additional cost may be required for an activity. Please plan to bring an additional $10 per person to cover any extra costs. We will confirm the details closer to your trip.

Ministry Week

Kids Club and Work Projects

Mileage

The nearest airport is in Jackson, MS (one hour east of Tallulah).

Transportation & Travel

Groups are responsible for transportation to and from the site, as well as during the mission week. This site can only accommodate standard 15 passenger vans or smaller.

Additional Information

For places to visit in Mississppi visit: www.visitmississippi.org, for Jackson, visit: www.visitjackson.com and for Louisiana, visit: www.louisianatravel.com.