The Center serves mostly low income and rural communities with high unemployment and low educational achievement. There are several who desire leadership positions, but most lack the skills for leadership. This is not because of a lack of aptitude but the lack of training. We believe that training at the grassroots level will enhance the quality of leadership who in turn will enhance the overall status for a community that has been locked out of the equation. We will give a voice to the voiceless and we will not only be involved in education, but in cutting edge research that will positively effect these communities, from health care disparities to civic engagement, and effect responses to natural disasters that have greatly affected these communities for the past two years. Our mission is educate, enable, and prepare grassroots persons to become better individuals and advocates for economic, political and social change for the betterment of the community.