This paper examines the early history of Friends of Children of Mississippi (FCM) in Humphreys County, located in the Delta. Through the testimonies of Black women employed by the program, it details the emergence of this grassroots, antipoverty program and their self-determination to have an educational program of their own.

Founded in 1966 as an advocacy group, FCM adopted a model of organizing established by the Movement and its predecessor, CDGM. Transitioning to an educational program, the organization remained unfunded for its first eighteen months due to attacks from state officials against Head Start. Yet even without federal support, FCM served nearly 2,000 children in six counties.