The Southern Opportunity Foundation is on a mission to address unique challenges in underserved regions while creating opportunities for sustainable community success.
President and interim CEO, Kentaro Johnson, and four other Delta State University students, started the 501c3 foundation in 2023. The foundation is rooted in the principles of Black excellence and philanthropy. Three out of five have graduated from Delta State University and moved on into their careers, while two others are seniors this year.
Johnson, a Jackson native, graduated from Delta State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and earned his Master’s in Teaching in 2023. Now pursuing a doctorate, Johnson’s vision for the foundation stems from his work with the Delta Brown Youth Initiative, which inspired him to create programming to help regions with untapped potential.
“We don’t do things for people; we do things with people. Our philosophy is that the communities already have what they need in order to be successful. We simply want to give those people extra, added resources so that we can come in and then create a sustainable path for them to continue to be successful,” said Johnson. Johnson explained the Teddytales program, an educational program that gives students a book and a bear or other stuffed animal. The students receive a bear with a birth certificate along with the book. Essentially, the goal is to increase reading literacy rates for the Mississippi third-grade reading gate.
“The two-fold project also measures the social-emotional learning of the child. The goal is that the bear is the child’s first student, and the child becomes the bear’s first teacher. Here in the Mississippi Delta, parents often don’t have the opportunity to come home and read to the scholar, the student. So, the Southern Opportunity Foundation decided to put the learning into the hands of the child,” said Johnson.
The age group is from 6 to 11, assisting children in second and third grades, although the foundation hasn’t turned away parents who have younger children interested in the program. The community-based phase of the program involves the parent signing the scholar up on their website at southernopportunity foundation.org so that students can receive one book per month. The goal is for the parents to be able to support the students by also providing books.
Jamaal Bryant, the Vice President of Development and a senior at Delta State University pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, handles fundraising and donor retention rates for the organization. Bryant oversees the foundation’s financial literacy program, Roadmap Navigating Financial Success. This program teaches middle and high school students essential skills such as budgeting and career planning. Using interactive games, students learn to navigate real-world financial scenarios. They are assigned careers and life situations and work to maintain a positive balance by the end of the activity.
“This program helps young people understand financial independence and prepares them for future careers,” explained Bryant. He also oversees the Miss Health Project platform, an online resource to support women across the region. The project addresses key issues for women, enhancing their day-to-day health, providing vital information, and offering resources for reproductive health and contraceptives—all aimed at fostering healthier lifestyles. In partnership with Ideal Women, an organization at Delta State University, the foundation promotes women’s empowerment and well-being.
The Foundation’s impact spans 12 states, including Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. “Our goal is to go as far and wide as possible, but we’re firmly rooted in the city of Cleveland,” said Johnson. “We’re here, present, and actively working to execute programs.”
“We’re committed to the people here and across the South,” said Bryant. “We’ve been doing this work for a long time, and that shows how truly dedicated we are.”
Through its programs and outreach, the Southern Opportunity Foundation is creating a pathway for communities to grow and thrive. “We’re here to serve and are ready to support everyone,” added Bryant.
To learn more about the foundation or to get involved, email kjohnson@southernopportunity foundation.org or visit southernopportunity foundation.org.