
The B.B. Ambassadors program offers Delta teenagers the chance to develop leadership skills while acting as ambassadors for the region’s history and culture. NEH funding helped the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center transition programs like this one online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Image courtesy of the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center.
The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center celebrates the life of blues musician B.B. King while preserving the history of the Delta Blues and culture of the Mississippi Delta. Located in the town of Indianola, pop.~10,000, the museum supports the local economy by bringing in tourism dollars while providing employment and essential arts, humanities, and leadership opportunities for local community members. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an NEH CARES grant helped the B.B. King Museum shore up its operations, keeping staff employed while transitioning to a virtual work environment.
–Malika Polk Lee, executive director, B.B. King Museum