Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ross to speak at Ila Upchurch banquet

U.S. Congressman Mike Ross is slated as guest speaker for the Ila Upchurch Foundations annual banquet on April 14.

When they called and invited me to be their speaker, I was honored to accept, Ross said during a recent telephone interview.

Ross said he plans to speak

Prescotts my hometown, Ross. So Im keenly aware of the good work the Ila Upchurch Foundation does there in Nevada County. They help a lot of young people.

Ross cited the foundations mentoring an tutoring programs as proof of their commitment to the community.

According to information from the foundation, the group was established Jan. 4, 1990, in honor of an educator - Ila Dedia Upchurch. She is described as a devoted educator and self-help advocate known throughout Nevada County and Arkansas.

Upchurch was born and raised in Mississippi but moved to Arkansas to teach school. According to a historical account of her life compiled by the foundation, Upchurch was appointed to teach in Nevada County by the Arkansas Department of Education and she worked at that position for 25 years. During her tenure with the county, she served as assistant supervisor for the Negro Schools of Nevada County.

She worked to organize high schools during consolidation and was a charter member of the Arkansas Congress Colored Parents-Teachers Association. She held an array of positions in an effort to improve both educational and social standards over the course of her life. She was a member of Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, a notary of the public, accountant and social worker.

The decision to create the Ila Upchurch Community Corporation started with a spark, according to the historical account of the foundation. Initial goals listed were tutorial services for school-aged children, an adult literacy program, self-help programs and scholarships. Those goals remain largely unchanged after more than 15 years of operation.

The Ila Upchurch Foundation is a non-profit organization operating with money from donations and the groups fundraisers.

The annual banquet is an opportunity for the community to gather in honor of the late Upchurch and to recognize contributions by members of the community. The Citizen of the Year and Teacher of the Year will be presented as well as some additional awards.