Executive Summary

The Sasse Street Strategic Wealth Plan is a community-driven roadmap developed to support long-term health, economic opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization in the Sasse Street neighborhood of southeast Clarksdale, Mississippi. Located in one of the most historically disinvested areas of the Mississippi Delta, the neighborhood is defined by deep intergenerational poverty, health disparities, and racial inequity. Led by Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center (AEH) and developed with support from Thrive Integrated Strategies and a diverse stakeholder group, the plan was informed by more than 500 local residents through surveys, focus groups, and community polling.

The plan centers four top priority focus areas identified by residents:

1. Housing
2. Workforce Development & Economic Opportunity
3. Financial Literacy
4. Community Engagement & Youth Retention

Each focus area includes actionable pilot tactics designed for collaborative implementation by local partners. A central hub of activity is Sasse Park, a 9-acre green space targeted for major renovation, and the plan leverages existing initiatives such as AEH’s Health + Wealth partnership with Southern Bancorp, which integrates trauma-informed financial counseling into primary care.

The plan positions AEH as a convener and backbone support, not a sole implementer. Through coordinated effort, this strategy builds the foundation for scalable, place-based investment in Clarksdale’s future.