MSI Co-chair
Darrin Dixon is a native of Lake Providence, LA, a small town located in the northeast corner of the state.

Darrin continued his education at Southern University and A&M College where he majored in Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness. During his matriculation at Southern, he involved himself in various extra curricular activities. These activities include: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (President, 1991-92); Student Government Association (Student Loan Officer, Activities Committee, Business Manager, Student Election Committee); Sunrise Lodge # 109 F & AM, Prince Hall Affiliation, College of Agriculture Student Council, and served on several student election campaign committees. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in May 1992. After graduation, Darrin worked one year at Southern as a residence hall director.

In 1993, Darrin returned to Lake Providence. There, he began a life of public service. In 1994, he was appointed by the East Carroll Parish Police Jury to serve on the Parish Industrial Development Board. He was employed by the city of work with the town’s efforts to receive an U.S. Empowerment Zone grant designation. This work involved compiling a data base of the parish resource, leading the youth initiative, and working with community leaders in other parishes and counties in Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi. Also, he worked with Jack White, a reporter for TIME magazine, as he did research for his article on our parish entitled, “East Carroll Parish: The Poorest Place in America”.

In 1995, Darrin began employment at Harris Funeral Home. Worked that for seven years and received his state license for funeral directors. In 1996, Darrin was elected to the East Carroll Parish Police Jury where he served two terms. During his tenure, he served as Chairman of the Ways and Means, Public Works, Head Start Oversight and Sixth Judicial Prison District, and two years and Vice President of the Jury. To his credit, he authored an ordinance to create the Parish’s first Communication District and give leadership to provide E-911 service for the entire parish.

His other community activities include: Reviving the High School Athletic Booster Club, public announcer for the high school football games, time clock operator for high school basketball, referee for elementary and middle school basketball, coached girls summer softball team (won first place), sports and community anchor for Providence Television Ministries (local access television station), recording secretary for the East Carroll Parish Baptist Association, Deacon and Sunday School Teacher of China Grove Baptist Church, Lake Providence Chamber of Commerce, East Carroll Parish Communication District (Chairman), and organizer of Main Street Revitalization committee. Darrin also serves as volunteer Executive Director of Spring Olive Grove CDC organized in June 2005. This organization currently provides housing and outreach to displace hurricane victims.
Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the Strategic Action Council CDC of Northwest Louisiana. He also worked on a task force to create a Minority Supplier Institute in Northwest Louisiana where he co-authored the Organization’s business plan. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Minority Supplier.

He currently works at Southern University at Shreveport as HUD Grants Coordinator where he started in 2003. In January 2004, he established the Small Women and Minority Owned Business Incubator program. To date, the program services over 125 business interest per year. The program has six tenants. Additionally, he does grant writing at the University and has generated over $1.5 million dollars in grants for community development activities.