"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Muldrow Group Funded For Community Building

MULDROW, Oklahoma – The Muldrow Cherokee Community Organization is gathering resources to begin work on a new community building after receiving an $85,000 grant from the Cherokee Nation.

Don Greenfeather, CN community development director, informed the MCCO in October that it received the tribal monies grant.

“It’s a good start. We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Jennetta Barrow, MCCO board member.

She said work groups are being formed from a volunteers list, and the group planned to break ground for the new 50-by-75-foot building by mid-November. MCCO members hope to increase the building’s size in the future if they receive additional grant money they applied for earlier this year, Barrow said.

Greenfeather said Cherokee organizations that request CN funding must be a formal group, and at least half of the organization’s governing board must be Cherokee citizens.

“That group down there has been really productive. They acquired the property (for the community building). CN Natural Resources will assist with the (concrete) pad, and from now on we will provide any technical assistance we can,” Greenfeather said. “It’s up to them to put sweat equity into the building. Mostly what we’ll do is make sure they are in compliance with our agreement.”

Barrow said the grant requires MCCO members and volunteers to match dollar for dollar the $85,000 in volunteer labor hours.

Formed in April 2006, one of the MCCO’s main goals is to educate and share Cherokee culture and history with people in Muldrow and surrounding Sequoyah County communities.

“We want to do some positive things for Muldrow. The Cherokee Nation has been the greatest ally for us for making that happen,” Barrow said.

Until recently, the group had been meeting in churches, restaurants, the town’s fire station and people’s homes. In the summer, the MCCO received a $25,000 grant from the CN, which it used to rent office space in Muldrow, buy tables and chairs, purchase books for a heritage library, buy four computers, get Internet service, establish a Web site and pay for other expenses related to the organization.

The rented office space provided the 96 MCCO members a place to meet until they finish constructing the new community building. The office space also holds Cherokee history and language courses along with quilting, sewing, healthy cooking and computer classes.

After the community center is built, Barrow said she hopes to work with the Muldrow school system to teach children Cherokee heritage.

For more information, call 918-427-4521 or 918-916-6540 or visit (MCCO) Muldrow Cherokee Community Organization.