beverly knox,
president
WELCOME!
What an honor and privilege to serve as President of The Montgomery Institute (TMI). New leadership and TMI's program focus co-occurred in July of 2021, after my predecessor, TMI founder William “Bill” Crawford, retired.
One new initiative focuses on health, as we promote public health education through the Community Health Improvement Network (CHIN). With CHIN, everyone in Lauderdale County and the surrounding areas has a partner in health. CHIN’s mission is to facilitate collaboration among community provider partners to create joint programs and cooperative ventures that improve and sustain health care access and quality delivery, especially for underserved and underprivileged populations.
Along with CHIN, TMI facilitates other initiatives through grant programs. Partnering with the MS State Department of Health, TMI is the fiscal agent of the Tobacco-free Coalition of Noxubee, Neshoba, and Kemper counties. The Tobacco-Free program promotes a healthy lifestyle without tobacco use, teaching the dangers of tobacco and vaping or electronic cigarettes.
Our Drug-Free Communities Coalition, made possible by a CDC grant, works hand-in-hand promoting prevention as well as cessation for students who have experienced cannabis or opioid use. The Drug-Free program offers classes for students in sixth through twelfth grades on the dangers of youth drug use.
TMI also offers cultural arts programs and arts education to encourage a well-rounded or whole community because we believe the arts are essential to a thriving, connected, and forward-moving community. Through a wide range of programming and arts education initiatives, we use the power of creativity to build community, support lifelong learning, enrich education, and inspire connection across generations.
TMI aims to foster a community that fits the legacy of our namesake, the late Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery. Sonny’s life and leadership were shaped by four irreplaceable values: faith, patriotism, relationships and perseverance, which he called “staying the course.”
My faith motivates me to strive for improved healthcare and unity in our community by using Sonny’s method of upbuilding people and places in East Mississippi and West Alabama.
Staying the Course,
Beverly J. Knox, President
The Montgomery Institute.
About Us
The Montgomery Institute (TMI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to charitable and educational purposes, focusing on training individuals in leadership skills and promoting strategic thinking about societal issues for the betterment of communities in the eastern portions of Mississippi and the western portions of Alabama. Our mission is to develop human and infrastructure resources in these regions and maintain funds for furthering our charitable and educational objectives. At TMI, we aim to increase outreach and engagement, raise healthcare awareness, and improve community through cultural arts events and programs, as well as education through arts integration in PreK-12 schools. Learn more about our initiatives, events, and the impact we are making in the communities we serve. Join us in our mission to make a difference. Your support matters.
